Raley's strikers should take their lumps

No one wins in a strike. The employees lose wages and the employers lose revenues.

We all sympathize with the striking workers but the company has to cut costs to be competitive and to stay in business. Let's face it, the major expense in any business is labor — so that's where they cut first. With the unemployment rate, most of us are fortunate to have a job and we all have made several difficult decisions on how to deal with less income and fewer benefits.

What I question is how the union amassed $60 million to pay the strikers. Must have come from their dues.

Why don't they use this money to help pay for the loss in benefits to their members? Why don't the union members ask the union for concessions, too (e.g., lower dues)? Time to take a hard look at ourselves and make do with less in order to survive during these harsh times.

Good luck to both sides and we all hope you come to a speedy resolution that you can all live with.

JIM MENARD

Turlock