Shoppers owe debt to unions

11-7
To the editor:
This is a reply to a previous letter to the editor.
There are many of us who support our striking friends and neighbors at Vons. It is best to first be informed.
The highest-paid of these people earn $17 an hour, and not many earn that. Most earn minimum wage to $12 an hour. Most of those only work part-time, as it is now corporate practice to eliminate pension, retirement and medical benefits by not having full-time employees.
Vons has said it wants to add $5 a week too the employees' portion of their health care costs. This is not true. It plans to eliminate vision, dental and preventive medical coverage. It is quadrupaling co-pays on what it retains. It is increasing retirees' portions to up to 25 percent of their pensions. On a fixed income with no cost of living provisions, this is pushing senior citizens to poverty.
It is good to have opinions, but better still to be informed, not misguided. As to the definition of a scab, let me quote Jack London:
"After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, he had some awful substance left with which he made a scab. A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water-logged brain and a combination backbone made of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.
"When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs, and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out. No man has a right to scab as long as there is a pool of water deep enough to drown his body in, or a rope long enough to hang his carcass with. Judas Iscariot was a gentleman compared with a scab, for betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab hasn't!
"Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Judas Escariot sold his savior for 30 pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold for a promise of a commission in the British army. The modern strikebreaker sells his birthright, his country, his wife, his children, and his fellowman for an unfulfilled promise from his employer, trust or corporation.
"Esau was a traitor to himself, Judas Iscariot was a traitor to his god, Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country.
"A strikebreaker, a scab, is a traitor to his god, his country, his family and his fellowman."
- Jack London
1876-1916
I believe we owe a debt to those who came before us. Unions made possible minimum wage, the 40-hour week, the eight-hour day, and overtime pay. It helped stop child labor and unsafe working conditions. It's a struggle to keep up today and we can help by supporting our friends and neighbors who ask no more than what is just and fair!

Dick Fernow
Ojai

Fall Festival cause for gratitude

11-7
To the editor:
I'm a first-time writer, but I've lived in Ojai close to 40 years. Since we're coming into the fall season, I'm always reminded of all the things I'm thankful for, and all that I have, starting with my father in heaven, my husband and child, and the small but always beautiful community and the great people in it.
I'm grateful for Mira Monte School, the teachers, staff, students and many, many families that work together to make things happen - such as our first Fall Festival fund-raising event - wow, what an awesome experience to participate in! I'm so touched by the creativity, skills, and lots and lots of time that our parents, students, teachers and staff invested to earn funds for our school.
I'm most grateful for the local restaurants that participated in my raffle ("Dining Ojai Style"): The Ranch House, Soule Park Clubhouse, Casa de Lago, and Boccali's Pizza House; and Starr Market for a huge turkey. The Lions Club for donating their evening to barbecue. There were many, many more merchants to thank, but I've only mentioned those I was personally involved with.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
We have some kinks to iron out for the next fall festival, but that's all part of it. I have no complaints. It was a success.
Let's try to end this year in a positive and not-so-uptight way. Hope you can somehow find time to be thankful and show it to someone close by.

Kimmi Marie Henard
Ojai

Mentally ill already among us

11-7
To the editor:
I enjoyed very much Michelle Thomas' letter, and all the research she had provided. I found it very interesting. I'm sorry, but I do have to agree that everyone seems so concerned about allowing a mental heath facility in our community when, in fact, she made the point of saying that it recently had been a jail. A jail. Although it wasn't a hard-core, lock-down, criminally insane or a Charles Manson-type facility, but a jail nonetheless.
Anyone who lives in Ojai for any amount of time must know that we have an extreme amount of homeless, hobos, mentally ill, whatever you may call them, and if you've ever visited or taken an interest in the shelters in the winter, you would know that the numbers seem to increase every year as to how many are taken in there. And, most recently, the incident with the police department concerning the man who was shot here.
So, for all those so concerned about mental health issues in your community, look around - they are your neighbors.

Christi Fontes
Ojai

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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