In 1984 I left my job as a meat cutter at Stop & Shop and accepted a position as an organizer with my union — the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union. As an International organizer I was not confined to one region. I spent the next 13 years traveling around America organizing workers — packinghouse workers in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Mississippi, RNs in Washington State, retail food workers in Texas, Arizona, California and Ohio — and countless other organizing campaigns all over the country.

I have never threatened a worker — never tried to win support from a worker with alcohol (a really stupid idea), never lied to a worker, never made false promises and certainly never scared a worker in 24 years of organizing. I have never been found guilty by the National Labor Relations Board of violating the National Labor Relations Act.

What I have seen companies do to workers during organizing campaigns is quite another thing. I have witnessed boldfaced disregard for the law and any sense of decency and morality. I have seen workers being fired for supporting a union, threatened for supporting a union, constantly being lied to and pressured to break their spirit. I have seen many tears.

I have seen management openly and continually break the tenets of the National Labor Relations Act. And why not? Their punishment is a slap on the wrist. What Froma Harrop sees on paper (“Unions fight secret ballot,” Nov. 13) is a totally different reality from what comes down in the street.

Labor-law enforcement has long been unbalanced.

Labor is not conspiring to tip the scales in their favor with the Employees Free Choice Act. They are simply seeking a level playing field.

I welcome Ms. Harrop to come with me on an organizing drive to see for herself the incredible indignity and meanness all too present in this endeavor.

JAMES P. RILEY

Providence

The writer is secretary-treasurer of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 328.