‘A Choice, Not an Echo’ on Forced Unionism

Right to Work Committee Intensely Lobbies Presidential Hopefuls

(Source:  January 2012 National Right to Work Committee Newsletter)

As the 2012 presidential primaries and caucuses begin this month, millions and millions of Americans are looking for a clear alternative to the Obama Administration’s relentless promotion of compulsory unionism.

Ever since he became U.S. President three years ago, Barack Obama has eagerly championed Big Labor power grabs in Congress and selected forced-unionism zealots for leadership positions at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Labor Department, and other federal bureaucracies.

But polls show the vast majority of all Americans who regularly vote in federal elections believe the Obama Administration is just plain wrong to favor forcing workers to pay union dues to get a job.

And opposition to pro-forced unionism federal policies is especially intense among likely voters in the states where the crucial first contests for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination are taking place.

Surveys recently conducted for the National Right to Work Committee by respected pollster Kellyanne Conway confirm that likely voters in the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries this month overwhelmingly agree that federal labor laws should either protect the Right to Work, or be scrapped completely.

‘Will the Next President Of the United States Stand up to Big Labor?’

Ms. Conway’s scientific survey, conducted November 18-21 by live interviewers at a computer-assisted telephone facility, found that 72% of likely Granite State primary voters believe federal law should “definitely not” allow “labor union officials to have a worker fired . . . for not paying union dues or fees.” An additional 9% said federal should “probably not” allow that.

In the Palmetto State, the results were even more lopsidedly pro-Right to Work.

An overwhelming 82% of likely South Carolina primary voters said federal law should “definitely not” sanction forced union dues or fees. Another 4% said “probably not.”

In both states, there was massive opposition to compulsory unionism among GOP primary voters regardless of income level, and regardless of whether they identified themselves as “conservatives” or “moderates.”

Committee Vice President Matthew Leen noted:

“The Obama team’s schemes to expand forced unionism, such as presidentially-appointed Acting NLRB General Counsel Lafe Solomon’s ongoing crusade to intimidate forced-unionism state businesses from relocating to or expanding in Right to Work states, [ed. — see page three for details] are very unpopular.

“As an alternative to Mr. Obama, freedom-loving Americans of all parties want a President who’s ready to fight for the Right to Work principle. Will the next President of the United States stand up to Big Labor?

“Or will he or she spend the next four years avoiding confrontation with the union bosses because they’re ‘too powerful’ to take on?”

Right to Work Proponents Have Serious Concerns About Several GOP Candidates

As this Newsletter edition goes to press just before the Iowa caucuses, Right to Work leaders and members have serious concerns about several of the remaining candidates for the GOP presidential nomination.

“The good news is, Michelle Bachmann, Rick Perry, and Ron Paul have all responded to their Committee candidate surveys and staked out their position 100% in opposition to compulsory unionism and in favor of a national Right to Work law,” reported Mr. Leen.

“And even Newt Gingrich, who as a congressman consistently refused to cosponsor national Right to Work legislation and actively opposed Committee efforts to force a roll-call vote on the bill, has now also returned his survey, pledging full support for the Right to Work.

“The bad news is, several other candidates, including Rick Santorum and the front-runner, Mitt Romney, have yet to return their Right to Work surveys. Worse yet, in their previous stints as officeholders, Mr. Santorum and Mr. Romney both had a bad habit of trying to appease the union bosses.”

Mr. Leen urged Right to Work members, especially residents of early primary states, to continue intensely lobbying Mr. Santorum and Mr. Romney, along with the other nonresponsive GOP hopeful, Jon Huntsman. “There’s still time for all these candidates to stand up for the Right to Work,” he concluded.