For thirteen years I worked alongside Mr. Yanko’s Pipe Fitters Local #597 as a non-union estimator and field engineer. They taught me many things and I taught many of their apprentices engineering. I worked with their journeymen to solve problems they encountered. We built the Ni-Gas SNG Plant, Collins Station, Braidwood Station and LaSalle Station.

The local is one of the largest in the national union. I don’t know if other locals are organized the same, but 597 was basically run by the piping companies who employed the members. Some of the leaders were permanently employed members may of had some ownership.

We had many discussions about the local but I never heard a single derogatory remark about the arrangement. During those thirteen years it honored only one strike by another union. Members were well-paid and expected to do a good day’s work. If they didn’t, they left voluntarily or otherwise.

I understand Mr. Yanko’s support for AFSCME since he is a 597 member, but his union’s model won’t work for the state. I think a responsible union is necessary but a uniform pay scale is wrong. The wages of someone in Cook or the collar counties may allow a decent living. The same wages in most of the rest of Illinois allows a very high living standard.

I think a graduated system should be used to create a new pay scale. This would be done by freezing the scale in cheaper areas while higher areas got a raise. The maximum difference could be $10,000. This would be fair to their neighbors and the state’s taxpayers. Perhaps it could be extended to legislators — Oops, that will never happen.