By Brett Bashaw
President, Pacific Coachworks

I have read your Dec. 13 article in which you predict that Pacific Coachworks would "disappear from the RV landscape" within the next thirty-six months as a result of the fact that a union has been certified to represent our production employees. At the end of your article, you ask, "Will I eat my words at the end of 2014?"

We believe you will be eating your words. Before I explain why, let me share some facts with you.

Our employees did NOT vote overwhelmingly for union representation. In fact, only one vote separated those who voted for the union and those who voted against. The 100 days you referred to regarding the post vote "arbitration" was to review the union's conduct during the campaign which we believed threatened and misled many of the employees into supporting the union. In spite of the testimony of a number of our employees regarding the union's conduct, the result of this narrowest of elections was upheld. We would hope the process would be more fair and democratic, but anyone who has not been through it themselves need only look at what Boeing has just gone through.

Contrary to your comments, Pacific Coachworks continues to produce and continues to innovate. Through the months of November and December, the factory has been operating at full production. Also, in the last year, we have introduced three new product lines including two toy hauler lines. Additionally, our toy haulers have features that our design team created which are completely new to the industry of which will soon be copied by our competitors.

Unfortunately, it has taken a while for some employees to realize that a union cannot simply snap their fingers and produce a $5 per hour raise as the union promised. But, all indications are that the majority of our workforce will ultimately come to the conclusion that their self interest and that of their families is directly tied to the continued success of Pacific Coachworks.

Many of the conclusions you draw about the "albatross" hanging over unionized companies arose from labor contracts that were negotiated decades ago at a time when management abdicated much of its authority to unions and agreed to the kind of provisions that did make them uncompetitive and unable to focus on innovation. As many of the more recent settlements we read about reflect, companies have learned their lesson and are abandoning that strategy.

We will be entering negotiations shortly. While we will bargain in good faith with the union, rest assured that any agreement we might reach will be one that preserves the absolute right of Pacific Coachworks to continue to succeed in this challenging economy both operationally and financially while recognizing and rewarding the important contribution that our employees make to our success.