Right To Work a race to the bottom – Letter to the Editor
Oklahoma, the most recent state to pass a “Right-to-Work” law (2001), between 2002–2004 saw a 6.4% loss in manufacturing jobs and a 10.6% loss in information-field related jobs.
When all 22 current “Right-to-Work” states were examined, wages dropped significantly for workers in all demographic categories.
The report estimates, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau data, that if Indiana were to adopt a “Right-to-Work” law, weekly wages for all workers may drop by as much as 16.3% and annual wages for all workers may drop as much as 17.3%.
Median family income and average weekly wages are consistently higher in states without antiquated “Right-to-Work” laws.
The report concludes that a “Right-to-Work” law would be a fundamental step backwards for Indiana and would be a “race to the bottom” in terms of wages, benefits, and working conditions for Hoosier families.
Jimmie Link
I would point out wages could have dropped because they didn't have to pay union dues. You might want to link to your data look into that.
Also, you use 2002-04. Last I remember the economy was still suffering from the 9/11 attack and only in 04 was the economy starting to recover. I think a year by year examination from 01-11 needs to be done, and I believe that was presented in the commitee.
It is a known fact that 25-40 (maybe 50)% of businesses who start up or relocate only pick Right to work states. I rather see Indiana grow then place a cap on job growth based on some antiqued approach to employee-business relations. This is sort of like the I-67 debate, do you want to see our kids continue to not come back to Dubois County over 40 miles of Interstate? Really?
Dubois County (not picking on you) needs to realize we need to grow otherwise we will shrink and businesses will leave or not locate here. Many like to make fun of counties around us, but if you think that cannot happen to us, you are sorely mistaken. Do you (the reader) really think large cities became large just because people happened to show up there? Think about that. This is what the youth of Dubois is frustrated at, the area is being held back. The census data of the age breakdown should scare people…
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=32355…
If I was so bad a lawyer that they didn't want to pay me, then I have other issues.
This is about the freedo mof choice and not how to keep up the union boss' summer retreat. Employees get paid regardless. Some will get paid more, some less. It is the free market. Union shouldn't be able to force people to pay them to work. If the union's don't want to represent the people who don;t want to pay ALL they have to do is during the next contract negiotiation, write those who don't join out of the agreement. Let the independent worker forge their own contract individually.
It isn't Union busting. It is the freedom of choice, or the libety to do what one wants to do regardless of your fellow worker. The fact people don't want to join unions should be more scary to you Michael, because that means the union isn't worth being part of. I would note that it is known building trade union see almost zero impact on their roles because of right to work, so your statements are only true of a % of unions. Messmer and other contractors will still hire unions due to the business model of that industry.