The law, jammed through the legislature on party-line votes, deprives unions of the right to mandate collection of dues, or even “fair share” fees in contracts with employers. The practical effect is to rob unions of money needed to represent workers.
Right-to-work laws have been a cause of the Radical Right for more than 60 years – as a way to destroy unions and reduce their ability to gain better livelihoods for workers. Minnesota is also a right-to-work target, with legislation proposed by Republican lawmakers this session.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka led the unionists in saying right to work will hurt Indiana workers – who will remember in November.
Indiana AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott said her state tried right to work once before, from 1957-65 and “it was an utter failure.” She predicted a repeat and added Hoosiers will exact retribution when they vote in November.
“I am reminded of the saying, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,’ and it seems especially fitting today,” she said. “Hoosiers have been here before” and after the prior failure, voters “rose up, changed elected officials and repealed it. It appears we are headed there again.
“Sadly, passage not only means that workers’ rights and ability to collectively bargain will be significantly weakened, it means strong-arm tactics, misinformation and big money have won at the Indiana statehouse,” Guyott added.
This article was written by Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.
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The law, jammed through the legislature on party-line votes, deprives unions of the right to mandate collection of dues, or even “fair share” fees in contracts with employers. The practical effect is to rob unions of money needed to represent workers.
Right-to-work laws have been a cause of the Radical Right for more than 60 years – as a way to destroy unions and reduce their ability to gain better livelihoods for workers. Minnesota is also a right-to-work target, with legislation proposed by Republican lawmakers this session.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka led the unionists in saying right to work will hurt Indiana workers – who will remember in November.
Right to work “reflects an extreme partisan agenda that is all about payback to corporate donors, instead of creating good jobs for working families and fostering a middle-class economy,” he said. “’Right to work’ policies don’t create jobs. Study after study has shown they reduce wages, benefits, and safety for all working people — the last thing anyone needs in this economy.
“Working people are energized and will remember who stood with them and who stood with the 1% on Election Day,” he concluded.
Indiana AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott said her state tried right to work once before, from 1957-65 and “it was an utter failure.” She predicted a repeat and added Hoosiers will exact retribution when they vote in November.
“I am reminded of the saying, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,’ and it seems especially fitting today,” she said. “Hoosiers have been here before” and after the prior failure, voters “rose up, changed elected officials and repealed it. It appears we are headed there again.
“Sadly, passage not only means that workers’ rights and ability to collectively bargain will be significantly weakened, it means strong-arm tactics, misinformation and big money have won at the Indiana statehouse,” Guyott added.
This article was written by Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.