Right to work laws = work for less

Residents of 22 states and the poor people of Guam live under so-called "right to work" laws. The vast majority of the "right to work" states are in the South, Great Plains and rural West where labor unions have been traditionally weak. U.S. Department of Labor statistics show that no state with a "right to work" law has income levels above the national average. While the stated purpose of "right to work" laws is to protect workers from being forced to join a union, the real reason is to discourage collective bargaining activity and keep wages low to appease short-sighted business interests. Fair bargaining states (lacking "right to work" provisions in state law) have higher income levels, fewer workplace injuries, greater levels of educational achievement and a lower percentage of workers without health insurance. In contrast, many working families in "right to work" states must turn to goverment for food stamps and Medicaid as they lack a living wage and health insurance coverage.
Business interests often claim that the "right to work" laws attract industry and are good for the economy, however, the laws actually seem to have a neutral or negative effect on economic growth. During a term as Oklahoma Governor in the 90's, David Walters talked with hundreds of corporate executives during about possible relocation to his state. Former Governor Walters noted that "not a single company brought up right to work as a factor in deciding whether to come to Oklahoma." The economic and quality of life comparisons that can be easily made between fair bargaining and "right to work" states support the notion that states and communities benefit from the higher wages and improved working conditions offered by higher rates of unionization. Businesses that offer better workplace environments will have lower turnover and improve productivity. States, cities and neighborhoods benefit when workers are paid a living wage, can afford to support their families and are able to give back to the community.
Labor activists in Idaho are making a major effort to repeal their state's "right to work" law which was passed by a Republican Legislature in 1986 after a well-funded propaganda campaign by big business interests. The promises of economic prosperity for Idaho families have failed to materialize. Like all work for less states, Idaho lags behind in median income and has a growing number of working families without insurance. The advocates of "right to work" laws promised that more businesses would relocate to Idaho if the union busting legislation passed, however, many residents of northern Idaho must cross the state line into free bargaining Washington to find suitable work. Let's hope that the campaign to end "right to work" in Idaho will prevail. If it can happen in Idaho, then maybe there will be hope for the rest of us who have to work for a living in the 22 work for less states and Guam.

http://www.fairwage.org

You will find some people saying that they are for the so-called 'right-to-work' law, but they also believe in unions. This is absurd --it's like saying you are for motherhood but against children." --President Harry S. Truman. 1947