Racial tensions.

John T. Joyce's article on labor contains many truths. Yet he, like many, ignores the eight-hundred-pound gorilla in the room. Never once does he mention the prevalence of racism in the labor movement. I hope that Joyce and John Sweeney have noticed that the racial composition of the unions that broke away from the AFL-CIO is predominately brown. As a labor organizer in the 1960s and '70s, I saw firsthand the racial problems that are all too common in unions. In the building trades, membership passes from generation to generation and is largely confined to defined ethnic groups. Meanwhile, the industrial unions had their own caste systems designed to keep minorities at the very bottom of the union structure. Is it any wonder that new labor leaders view their predecessors as dinosaurs?

THE AUTHOR REPLIES:

Racism and other forms of antisocial behavior clearly detract from labor's image and effectiveness. Edmund P. Butler and William J. Logal are correct to call on the labor movement to address these problems. To Mr. Butler I would note that, while I am not familiar with the situation in Philadelphia, in my experience such portrayals of union malfeasance are often exaggerated (and my hunch is that someone from Philadelphia labor could convincingly make that case). That said, union members and officers are, of course, as capable as anyone else of unlawful behavior. Unions work hard to prevent corruption by sponsoring internal audits and educational programs, and by cooperating with law-enforcement agencies. In situations where racism and intolerance exist, unions have experimented with sensitivity programs (which can be counterproductive unless carefully planned and executed).

On the issue of union construction costs: most studies indicate that the quality and productivity of union work more than offset higher union wages, which is why construction unions place so much emphasis on training. Also, as a study by the Kaiser Commission noted, labor is actually a very small part of total housing costs: it would take a 20-percent reduction in wages to affect a 2-percent reduction in the total cost of a house.

Finally, the public's perception of unions is probably shaped more by the style of its leadership rather than any illicit union activities. Union members tend to elect officers who can represent their interests in challenging circumstances. "Nice" guys are not always the most effective in dealing with thuggish and criminal employers and corrupt government officials. Anyone who is unaware that labor leaders have to deal with such people is perhaps blessedly naive about the society we live in.

JOHN T. JOYCE

WILLIAM J. LOGAL

Buffalo, N.Y.