Disregard for workers

Regarding “GOP doesn’t care about the dignity of work” (Jan. 16): Catherine Rampell’s latest column, about the Republican Party’s callous disregard for federal workers being financially impacted by President Trump’s government shutdown, is made doubly potent by a photo accompanying it.

According to its caption, the photo shows a rally organized by air traffic controllers in response to this shutdown. Anyone who knows U.S. political history will recall that back in 1981, former President Ronald Reagan tried to break the air traffic controllers’ union by firing over 11,000 striking workers who refused his order to return to work. Nearly 40 years later, it’s gratifying to see that this union still has active members, but depressing to know that the GOP is still a party that doesn’t care about federal (or non-federal) workers.

Karl Gustaffson, Half Moon Bay