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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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U. S. Representatives Deal and Kingston Cosponsor Forced-dues Repeal Bill
Right to Work Bill Would Bar Firing Workers For Refusal to Pay Union Dues; Congressional Leaders Urged to Join Campaign for 'Much Needed Reform'
FOR RELEASE: April 7, 2005
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Standing up for workers' freedom of choice, on April 5, 2005 Georgia Reps. Nathan Deal (R-Dist. 10) and Jack Kingston (R-Dist 1) signed on as cosponsors to forced dues repeal legislation in the U. S. House of Representatives known as the National Right to Work Act.
The bill, introduced on February 1, 2005 as H.R. 500, would not add a single word to federal labor law. It would simply repeal the coercive federal labor-law provisions that authorize the firing of employees for refusal to pay dues to a union.
Paying heed to the overwhelming majority of Right to Work supporters among their constituents, a total of 62 congressmen to date have joined lead sponsor South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson (R-Dist.2) as cosponsors in support of H.R. 500. A Senate version of the bill (S. 370) was introduced by Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) on February 14, 2005.
Under current federal labor law, millions of employees can be fired unless they pay dues or "fees" to union officials. H.R. 500/S. 370 would bar such firings.
"We are hoping for congressional floor votes on this much needed reform," said Mark Mix, President of the 2.2 million member, Springfield, Va.-based National Right to Work Committee.
"President Bush and leaders of both chambers of Congress are all on record in favor of forced-dues repeal," Mr. Mix explained. "I urge congressional leaders to schedule roll-call votes on H.R. 500 as soon as possible.
A 2004 national opinion survey by Maryland-based pollster Del Ali of Research 2000 showed that 79% 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, non-farm employment in the 21 states that had Right to Work laws during that period grew by 24.1%, compared to just 14.2% in the 29 states that don't protect employees from federally-imposed forced-union dues.
And between 1993 and 2003, real personal income grew by 37% in Right to Work states, compared to 27% 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, contact Linda Staulcup at (800) 325-7892.