AUGUST 27, 2008 - "What they don't need is the kind of "representation" that gives some organized labor a bad name." So says LA Times columnist Steve Lopez in a stinging column about the abuses of its members by SEIU.

In addition, he questions the SEIU International, saying "And what's with SEIU leadership? Not only did the spending go unchecked, but national union officials were in the process of steering more locals under Freeman's control until Pringle's stories broke." In other words, some Los Angeles City workers might have been placed under this corrupt leader, along with countless other hard-working SEIU members if the Times had not begun its investigations.

We salute Mr. Lopez for his fine column today and applaud the efforts of the Times to ferret out and publicize union corruption. Organized labor needs solidarity, not corruption and personal interests.

For your convenience, we have linked Mr. Lopez's column here