Organized Labor Is Losing a Pro

It was with considerable dismay that we at United Aerospace Workers Local 887 read the footnote on Harry Bernstein’s Labor column of March 30, indicating that it was to be his last.

Although we wish him the very best as he starts his retirement, we can’t help but feel that organized labor has lost one of the few remaining honest labor analysts in the print media.

Although there were times when we weren’t in complete agreement with everything he wrote, he has never been anything but fair, incisive and direct when it came to stating the case for and about unions and union workers. We thank him for his candor and are grateful for the many years he spent sharing his accurate coverage of labor and labor-related issues.

It is our earnest wish that whomever he has “apprenticed” to fill his absence has learned well from him and will continue to do the same excellent job.

If ever organized labor were to have a Hall of Fame, we’re confident that his name would be enshrined right next to the best-of-the-best labor writers, Heywood Broun. Harry Bernstein has earned the distinction.

His absence from the print media will be profoundly felt throughout America’s organized labor work force. Nonetheless, we offer him our congratulations and our best wishes for a long, happy, healthy retirement.

E. J. SCHALES

Paramount

The writer is president of Local 887 of the United Aerospace Workers.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Harry Bernstein’s columns will continue to appear periodically on The Times’ Commentary page and on Page A5.