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Businesses, unions share same goal

I find it interesting that the Undergraduate Student Association Council has unanimously declared that because “access to affordable healthcare is a human right,” we should support the grocery workers who are striking for better medical benefits (Dec. 4, p. 9 advertisement).

Neither a private business whose primary focus is maximizing its own profits nor a labor union whose primary concern is the welfare of its members (and not the welfare of the nation) is an ideal enforcer of human rights.

It is the government that protects our basic human rights to speak freely, petition our leaders and practice the religion of our choosing. All of the energy that the supermarket chains and the unions are expending during the current strike would be put to better use if both sides instead join forces to pressure the state and federal government to guarantee universal health coverage for all residents, both legal and illegal.

Businesses would benefit by being freed of this costly burden. And workers, both union and non-union, would be better off not having to worry about losing their health coverage when they leave their jobs.

Chris Norlin Alumnus UCLA Class of 1988

Health care costs are passed on

I must take exception with the submission by Ryan Yokota (“Strikers’ call for health care necessary, a right for all people,” Dec. 4). Health care is not a “right for all people.” As terrible as I feel about the poor workers getting carpal tunnel from scanning groceries, it is not the responsibility of the market to pay for their health care. If workers don’t find the benefits package to be satisfactory, they are free to find other sources of employment.

I realize that Yokota feels “supermarkets can more than afford to pay for these increases.” It’s very kind of him to spend other people’s money in such generous ways. I worked construction (a much more “dangerous” job) and managed to buy my own insurance.

Any costs the markets incur because of insurance costs will be passed on to customers. This will hurt all people, both rich and poor, that choose to shop at these stores. It’s a zero sum game. The benefit given to the workers leads to damages incurred by other members of society. No one benefits. This is basic economics. Workers’ unions are ruining economies in countries like France and states like California.

John Minnix The Anderson School at UCLA