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Forced-Dues Repeal Introduced in Congress
Right to Work bill would outlaw termination of workers for refusal to pay union dues; Congressional leaders urged to immediately schedule votes on “much-needed reform”
FOR RELEASE: February 10, 2005
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» National Right to Work Act
Washington, DC – Taking advantage of a congressional climate that has recently become more favorable to Right to Work supporters, U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) on Tuesday, February 1, 2005, reintroduced legislation to repeal the federal labor-law provisions that authorize the firing of employees for refusal to pay dues to a union.
Rep. Wilson was joined by 20 original House cosponsors in introducing the National Right to Work Act (H.R. 500). A companion Right to Work bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate within the next several weeks.
Under current federal labor law, millions of employees can be fired unless they agree to pay dues or “fees” to union officials. H.R. 500 would make such firings illegal.
“We are hoping for congressional floor votes on this much-needed reform,” said Mark Mix, President of the 2.2-million-member National Right to Work Committee.
“President Bush and the leaders of both chambers of Congress are all on record in favor of forced-dues repeal,” he explained.
Mr. Mix urged congressional leaders to schedule roll-call votes on H.R. 500 as soon as possible.
“Nearly eight out of ten Americans support ending the federally-imposed forced-dues system and returning to workers a right that should never have been taken away in the first place,” he noted.
A 2004 national opinion survey by Media Research 2000, for example, showed that nearly 80% of Americans support employees’ Right to Work whether or not they choose to affiliate with a union.
“Compulsory unionism robs American workers of their freedom, corrupts our political system, and saps our economy of productivity and jobs,” added Mr. Mix.
According to the U.S. Labor Department, between 1993 and 2003 (the last year for which figures are available), non-farm employment in the 21 states that had Right to Work laws during that period grew by 24%, compared to just 14% in states that didn’t protect employees from federally-imposed forced dues.
And between 1993 and 2003, real personal income grew by nearly 40% in Right to Work states, compared to 26% in forced-dues states.
In September 2001, Oklahoma passed the nation’s 22nd state Right to Work law and within six months was leading the nation in non-farm job growth.
During the period between September 2001 and March 2002, the U.S. suffered a net loss of nearly three million jobs, but Oklahoma was the only state in the union to see a net gain in jobs.
Prior to passage of the Right to Work law, Oklahoma’s non-farm job growth was less than half the national average.
Concluded Mr. Mix, “All Americans deserve to see the benefits of a National Right to Work law. With the President and leadership in both houses of Congress on record in support of ending forced unionism, right now is an excellent opportunity to hold roll-call votes on legislation that would restore a basic freedom to American workers.”
For more information about the National Right to Work Act, please contact Nathan Rhea at (800) 325-7892.