European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 3, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 the stars and stripes monday december 3,1090�?� writers react to German Union 1 read with some amusement and some concern your article concerning compensation that would be afforded local National employees who will be affected by the draw Down of . Forces in Europe. 1 have a few questions and comments regarding this first 1 done to agree with blackmail in any form even psychological blackmail. Making a statement that what we . Taxpayers arc going to give to local nation als will be a test of German Aine rican Friendship is absurd. Perhaps you need to be reminded that yes you May be negotiating directly with the military however in reality you Are negotiating with John and Jane Doe american a those who Are paying taxes. I do not wish to go into the details of just what the americans have done Here the last 45 years but in my opinion we have done quite enough. A big thumbs up for Gen. Crosbie Saint and his a according to Herr Lich Tenhagen a impertinent attitude. I have been bombarded since f arrived Here by los German British Irish Etc about How Good their social systems Are and about the wretched Way we americans run our to until. Well Here a your Chance to prove what you say. If your system is far Superior then it should be Able to take care of you. Why would you As our a a friends want to take advantage of us i believe the compensation package outlined by Usa eur is More than fair and it will surely Cost . Taxpayers a pretty Penny. Herr Lichtenhagen further stated a now the americans have a Chance to prove what our Friendship has been Bingo but lets turn it around. Take a Good Long look at this thriving United wealthy nation of yours. Lets look at All the american soldiers and airmen who have been separated from their families because they afford the rent our a a friends demanded to accommodate us while we were ensuring this wealthy nation would survive not to mention those americans who did not survive in ensuring the same. I sincerely Hope Herr Lichtenhagen is simply expressing his own and some of his unions feelings and not those of the majority of germans nationwide. I do believe most germans not just those who work for americans realize just what the americans have done for Germany and done to base Friendship on How much Money someone gives them. And in conclusion Why do you in these times of economic trouble for America with americans out of jobs already and most Likely More to come because of this same military draw Down feel you re getting a bum Deal in this Day and age of americans having to Settle for less Why do you feel you deserve More it sounds suspiciously like you consider us your a a friends Only when our wallets and pocketbooks Are open. A name withheld Stuttgart Germany the German Union seems to be asking too much of the United states. Nothing personal about the local nationals working for the . Army but Arentt they going overboard i understand that the army has a contract to fulfil but since there Isnit going to be an army in Germany does no to that automatically make that a contract null and void the Germa junion states that this dispute is going to be a True test of the German american Friendship. Talk about giving someone the guilt trip. If i am not mistaken there Are a Good number of germans who done to want the americans Here. Also How will the army be Able to Cut spending if All these demands Are met personally i think it would be just As expensive to leave the american bases Here. A spec. Joann c. Martinez Augsburg Germany in response to the article on German unions rejecting Western allies offers during salary negotiations i have one response a let them quit and hire americans belgians canadians britons or French for the positions or other local nationals who Are unemployed i am a Well employed . Citizen a so there Are no sour grapes from an employment standpoint. I would be saying the same thing if i were in Turkey Greece or any other country in the world where local nationals and their unions were dictating to governments whose troops and or officials were there not by Choice but by commitment either at the request of the local government or because of past record. I say the same thing in my own country for the same reason. With unemployment figures at some of the highest Levels Ever seen and the Cost of living soaring Why Are we catering to the demands of a Union for disproportionately High raises there is an untapped wealth of unemployed military family members Here in Germany who would jump at the Opportunity for gainful employment. Look at the unemployment figures in Germany after reunification. Do you feel these unemployed would not Welcome the Opportunity for full time employment even considering training costs new hires would Cost Well below what will be paid in benefits and salary if we Cater to Union you cannot Tell i am a vehement anti unionist. I grew up in Detroit and have seen not Only what the unions have done to the City but what they have done to their members. How do you justify starting pay of $14 per hour for someone with nothing but a or maybe less than a a High school diploma and what incentive is there for learning it has to Stop somewhere a Why not with the american governments troop support system in Germany a name withheld Stuttgart Germany the German Union is stating that it is a test of a a Friendship to give an outrageous compensation plan to these employees because the sofa agreement does no to provide for the compensation they desire. How ironic that any time an american employee questions the Vety generous benefits that local National employees receive Over . Employees we Are always told that these benefits Are governed by the sofa and Are not subject to change. Now that the local National employees Are not making out so Good they Are trying to declare part of the sofa invalid. In this time of financial crisis within the . Government lets just Hope that the . Negotiators uphold the agreement As is and not give in to these demands. We be contributed to the local Economy for years and its time that the . Taxpayer is not stuck with this Type of social Burden. A name withheld Ansbach Germany .1 feel for the local nationals but still it seems to me the american people have been More than just valuable friends to say the least. If it were not for the american people for the last 45 years the German people would not be anywhere close to having the Economy they have today. Yet they say we owe them for helping them the last 45years i feel America and other nato allies have helped form Germany into what it is today and to be quite Frank i think they still would have a Wall dividing their country if not for us. By the Way i see they Are paying the russians millions of Marks to leave but we owe them. operation desert shield. A a Correct Apo on saudi mail stressed there has been a tremendous outpouring of affection and support to our servicemen and servicewomen Par a tick Patag in operation desert shield. Literally tons of mail arrive daily in the geographical area of operation desert shield r in order for the service members to receive their mail at quickly As possible it is vital that the Correct Apo be used. Because so Many military families read your paper i am requesting that you publish a notice or Story in what Tance of using the Correct Apo. A britons bid Farewell a thievery Nice letter was received upon the closing of Raf Wethersfield Essex England former Home of the 819th red horse civil engineering Squadron. / pass it along to you per the request of the author. A master sgt. Stanton a. Sullivan a a Raf Alconbury England a -7 the commanding officer dear sir and company i write to you pm behalf of Many of the villagers to say we Are sorry you Are leaving our shores we have been honoured with your presence for such a Long time and the chaps will be sorely missed. They have Over the years behaved with kindliness and Friendship. We say sadly a god bless you Aii and thank you. Missad when friends say Good Bye but we shake hands without severing the tie. May we wish you All the Best i can state from personal experience that receiving mail from Home makes All the difference in the world whatever assistance you can give in the a movement of the mail will be greatly appreciated by Many thousands of outstanding americans who Are serving their country tar from Home. . Blumenfeld Cen com Public affairs operation desert shield editors note a All stars and stripes readers Are reminded to inform the folks Back Home to be sure to use their Correct mailing address especially the Cor rect Apo a a a a w. A. Failure to do so results in your mail being delayed for several Days. As the volume of mall increases this Tim of year improperly addressed mail will be Fri other delayed. Improperly Andrett amp a Malu to Settle Down in the United states and always remember your Wethersfield mates. Sincerely�?a1 Jone Wethersfield England
