Facts Show Right to Work is Right for America

On January 12, 2012, By NRTW Committee Staff

Writing in the Miami Herald, James Sherk of the Heritage Foundation makes the case of Indiana and other states to enact Right to Work laws to protect their workers:

Who could fault a worker who did not pay dues to the Teamsters? In the past two years the Department of Labor has charged or convicted of corruption 11 Teamsters officers. A government monitor recently accused the union’s president, Jimmy Hoffa, of trying to bribe election opponents with Teamster funds.

Should a worker be fired for not paying union dues? Unions think so. They negotiate contracts that force workers to pay union dues or lose their job.

Some workers object to their union’s political spending. Other workers could earn more than their union negotiated for them. Still others feel their union is corrupt.

Right-to-work has returned to the national agenda. Twenty-two states have passed right-to-work laws that let workers decide whether to support unions or not.  It protects employees’ right to work, whether or not they support unions.

New Hampshire legislators narrowly failed to override their governor’s veto of right-to-work. The Indiana legislature will soon debate whether to make the Hoosier state America’s 23rd right-to-work state.

They should. Right-to-work benefits the economy as well as personal freedom. Unions organize more aggressively in non- right-to-work states. It is worth it to attempt to unionize any business they have a shot at. If a state becomes right-to-work, however, expensive organizing drives at good employers becomes less worthwhile — unions cannot force content workers to pay dues.

Businesses want to know that, if they treat their workers well, unions will leave them alone. Right-to-work makes that more likely — and businesses notice.

Studies show right-to-work laws are a major factor in business location decisions. Most new auto plants have been built in right-to-work states. More investment means more jobs. (more…)

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Posted in: Forced-Dues for Politics, Forced-Unionism Abuses Exposed, Government Grants to Unions, Indiana, Legislation, Maine, National Right to Work Act, New Hampshire, Political Activity, Right to Work, Right To Work States, So-called "Fair Share", State Right To Work
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Indiana Workers Demand Their Right to Work

On January 10, 2012, By NRTW Committee Staff

From the Wall Street Journal:

The labor reform story of the year is unfolding in Indiana, which Republicans who dominate the legislature are trying to make the nation’s 23rd right-to-work state. Democrats are resorting to the old run-and-hide ploy, but this could be a huge economic boon to the Hoosier State.

Big Labor portrays right to work as a radical change, but it merely lets individual workers decide if they want to join a union. In non-right-to-work states, workers typically must pay union dues once their worksite is organized—whether they want to pay or not. This enhances union clout and the cash to dominate state politics.

Many industrial and manufacturing businesses only consider right-to-work states as locales for expanding their operations. The nearest right-to-work state in the Midwest is Iowa, so Indiana could set itself further apart from such high-tax, unionized havens as Illinois and Michigan.

According to Chief Executive Magazine’s annual CEO survey, Indiana has climbed to sixth from 16th among state business climates, thanks to reforms since 2004 under Governor Mitch Daniels. But the state’s biggest liability remains its labor market. A Forbes survey last year ranked Indiana 34th in business climate, partially because of a dismal 44th rank in labor “supply,” which includes unionization.

Democrats in the state House played hooky for three days last week in an effort to deny a quorum for voting on the law. They returned to work yesterday after Democratic leader B. Patrick Bauer acknowledged that they “can’t stay out forever.” House members face penalties of $1,000 per day for walkouts longer than three days, so the obstruction could get expensive. (more…)

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Posted in: Big Labor Payback, Economic Development in RTW States, Economic Impact of Unionization, Economics, Forced Dues, Forced-Dues for Politics, Government Grants to Unions, Indiana, Intimidation Tactics, Labor Organizations, Legislation, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Right to Work, Right To Work States, State Right To Work
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NH Rep.: Demonstrable population shift to Right To Work States

On October 4, 2011, By NRTW Committee Staff

Time for population in New Hampshire to retain its youth with jobs, rather than watching graduates leave the state. But, employees’ rights to freedom of association should be sufficient.  NH Rep. Patrick Abrami explains why he supports Right To Work and believes it is best for the Granite State:

On Wednesday, Oct. 12, there most likely will be the override vote of Gov. John Lynch’s veto of the Right-to-Work bill. My vote for the override will be driven by my belief that every person should be allowed to establish a relationship with their employer.

This in no way should impede an individual’s right to join and support a union. The reality is that in the 21st century, most employers are enlightened and realize they are competing for talent in the marketplace. Therefore, most employers treat their employees well, just as I and my fellow partners do with our 30 employees at my company.

This is one of the reasons why only 10 percent of workers are unionized today. Unions are a good check against the handful of not-so-enlightened employers. Thus, unions are a check on employers. To me, Right to Work is a check on unions.

If a union is enlightened, it will do great service for its members without jeopardizing the solvency of the companies from which their members draw a salary. If they don’t, then the members should have the right not to abide by a union’s dictates and be given the ability to form a relationship directly with their employers.

If that argument is not sufficient, consider the following and draw your own conclusions:

Congressional seats gained

Right-to-Work states total: 11

Non-Right-to-Work states total: 1 (more…)

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Posted in: Legislation, New Hampshire, Right to Work, Right To Work States, State RTW
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VA Governor tells NH to go “Right To Work”

On September 27, 2011, By NRTW Committee Staff

Virginia’s solid Right To Work foundation has helped keep its state budget in the black, its people working, and  made it an attractive place for businesses to locate.   More importantly it allows Virginia to lived up to Patrick Henry’s words demanding “Liberty.”

New Hampshire has the opportunity to live up to its motto and “Live Free” by overriding Gov. John Lynch’s veto of freedom.

Lynch, who is heavily financed by forced-union dues given to him by Big Labor bosses, chose to thwart freedom for working men and women. Somehow, Lynch decided it is more just to require people to be  forced to pay tributes union bosses against their will that to let struggling workers in New Hampshire decide if they should keep their own wages or choose to share some with a union.  Encourage your legislators to override Gov. Lynch’s veto of “Freedom” and “Liberty.”

From the Washington Post:

He received the loudest applause when he mentioned the need to tap the nation’s natural resources as part of a complete energy plan and to turn New Hampshire into a right-to-work state.

“We have a country that is now facing some tough issues,” he said. “It is time for a change.”

 

 

 

 

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Posted in: Economic Development in RTW States, Economic Impact of Unionization, Economics, Elections, Forced-Dues for Politics, Legislation, New Hampshire, Right to Work, Right To Work States, State Right To Work, State RTW, Virginia
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Right To Work Indecisiveness Upended Romney in Iowa

On August 17, 2011, By NRTW Committee Staff

According to the Illinois Review, “Many attribute Romney’s poor performance to flyers Right to Work supporters passed out at the straw poll highlighting Romney’s failure to support a National Right to Work Act.”

The Review continued:

National Right to Work Committee President Mark Mix stated the following upon hearing the results:

“Mitt Romney’s lackluster performance in the Ames Straw Poll shows the importance of the Right to Work issue. With America’s economy struggling to survive, the American people want to be free from the damages of forced unionism. Americans know that a Right to Work Law would help restore the economy, and they want a president that will fight for Right to Work.”

Throughout his political career Romney has continuously refused to publicly pledge support for the National Right to Work Act. In fact, he has done everything in his power to avoid the question altogether. The most recent incident was in Concord, New Hampshire earlier this week. Once again, while discussing the Right to Work issue, Romney refused to state whether he would sign a National Right to Work Bill.

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Posted in: Economics, Iowa, Legislation, National Right to Work Act, New Hampshire, Political Activity, Right to Work, Right To Work States
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Pawlenty’s Right To Work response brings down the house at the GOP Presidential Debate

On June 15, 2011, By NRTW Committee Staff

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s support for Right To Work ignited long and enthusiastic rounds of applause from the New Hampshire audience.

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The state came close to living up to its motto when it passed, by large majorities, Right To Work legislation this Spring.  But, Big Labor Gov. John Lynch vetoed the legislation and chose to continue to allow union bosses to forcibly take union dues from New Hampshire workers’ paychecks.

However, New Hampshire legislators are preparing to override the Lynch veto of worker freedom. Before the summer is over, there could be a 23rd Right To Work State. Judging by the enthusiastic response in the debate, the veto override clearly has momentum.

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Posted in: Forced Dues, Forced-Dues for Politics, Forced-Unionism Abuses Exposed, Government Grants to Unions, Intimidation Tactics, Legislation, National Right to Work Act, New Hampshire, Right to Work, Right To Work States
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New Hampshire Watchdog Big Labor has “functionally taken over the Democratic Party”

On June 8, 2011, By NRTW Committee Staff

Why the “Live Free or Die” state may continue to be mired in compulsory unionism according to the New Hampshire Watchdog’s Grant Bosse:

Right-to-work

Big Labor's Governor John Lynch endorses compulsory dues

The new dynamic has revealed itself most directly in the debate over right-to-work legislation. Having functionally taken over the Democratic Party, New Hampshire labor unions have drawn on a few Republican allies to try to sustain Gov. John Lynch’s veto.

Unions currently have monopoly bargaining power for all employees in unionized workplaces. They claim this burden justifies forcing union dues from unwilling workers. In fact, this monopoly prevents unions from having to compete at the bargaining table, driving wages and benefits higher.

Unions and their political allies think this is a good thing, while taxpayers end up paying more. Right-to-work would prevent workers from having to pay union dues as a condition on employment.

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Posted in: Forced Dues, Government Grants to Unions, Monopoly Bargaining, New Hampshire, Right to Work, Right To Work States
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