In the fall of 2008, the nation fell into its worst economic slump in a generation....

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In the fall of 2008, the nation fell into its worst economic slump in a generation. The stock market lost half its value. Many companies cut salaries and laid off workers. The unemployment rate soared. Unable to pay their mortgages, families lost their homes. Fear and anxiety gripped the nation. Even people with secure jobs worried about the future. Faced with a drop in advertising revenue, the New York Times Company cut the salaries of its non-union employees by 5 percent and furloughed them without pay for 10 days. It could not force such changes on the newsroom staff because they were unionized. Instead the company asked them to accept a similar reduction voluntarily. If the union did not agree, 60 to 70 of the 1,300 news staff would be laid off. Suppose that you are a member of the Times union with enough seniority to be sure that you will not be laid off. You have a mortgage to pay and children in college. Money is tight. On the other hand, you know that if some of the younger staff are laid off, they may never find another job in joumalism. All across the country, newspapers are closing and publishing houses are laying off workers. How will you vote in the secret union ballot?