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We at the National Right to Work Committee are fighting at many levels to protect America's working men and women's right to decide for themselves whether or not a union deserves their financial support.
Whether it be in the state and federal legislatures, the courts, or hearing rooms at the FEC or the NLRB, we fight to ensure that workers join unions because they want to – not out of fear or federal mandate.
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Rep. Joe Wilson Champions Bill to End Forced Unionism
National grassroots group praises Congressman for building record Congressional support; tough road lies ahead in moving bill
FOR RELEASE: October 27, 2003
Washington, D.C. – Months of hard work by Congressman Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) have helped generate record support among his colleagues for the National Right to Work Act (H.R. 391).
Since the bill was introduced in January of this year, 112 Congressmen have signed on as cosponsors of the bill that would repeal the federal labor-law provisions that authorize the firing of employees for refusal to pay dues to a union – more than have ever cosponsored in the same time period during past sessions of Congress.
This unprecedented rate of support can be attributed to Congressman Wilson’s active, hands-on lobbying for a National Right to Work law.
According to John Tate, Vice President of the 2.2 million-member National Right to Work Committee®, “Congressman Wilson and his staff have lobbied dozens of Congressional offices requesting support for H.R. 391, personally urging them to join him in sponsoring the National Right to Work Act.”
Under current federal labor law, millions of employees can be fired unless they agree to pay dues or “fees” to union officials. The National Right to Work Act would make such firings illegal. An identical bill was recently introduced in the Senate by Senator Trent Lott (R-MS).
Despite the impressive and rising level support among House members for the legislation, proponents of H.R. 391 face a few obstacles on the path to passage of the National Right to Work Act.
Given the current political climate and the Bush Administration’s focus on foreign policy, Republican leaders in the House and Senate appear reluctant to stir controversy on the domestic front – controversy that union leaders would certainly create in the face of a national debate on their forced-dues privileges.
About 80% of union dues come from workers who are forced to pay by federal law as a condition of employment, according to the National Institute for Labor Relations Research (NILRR).
Said Mr. Tate, “Despite prior public promises to push for roll-call votes on a National Right to Work act, Congressman John Boehner, chairman of the House committee where H.R. 391 currently resides, has expressed unwillingness to allow the bill onto the floor for a vote, citing the possibility that the bill will fail to pass.”
“That means it is likely that Congressman Wilson must recruit a record number of cosponsors if he is to convince the House leadership, particularly Mr. Boehner, that H.R. 391 is ready for action,” Mr. Tate continued.
“With a goal of 150 cosponsors in the coming months, it will be crucial to the success of the National Right to Work Act that Congressman Wilson and other congressional proponents put as much pressure on the House leadership as possible to schedule hearings and a roll-call vote on H.R. 391.
“Judging by his success so far, we are confident Congressman Wilson is up to the task.”
For more information about the National Right to Work Act, please contact Kirsten A. Heffron at (800) 325-7892.