| Right-to-work laws are statutes enforced in several US States, which prohibit several types of deals between employers and unionized employees, such as union security. "Closed shops", "union shops" and "agency shops" are
forbidden, and "open shops" are enforced. Supporters of "right-to-work" laws
claim that such laws give employees the right to work without joining a union. Opponents argue that the laws prevent free
contracts between unions and business owners, making it harder for unions to organize and less attractive for people to join a
union. They call these laws "work-for-less laws".
The power to pass right-to-work laws is delegated by an amendment to the
Taft-Hartley Act, passed by the Congress over then-President Harry S. Truman's veto in 1947.
In a state with right-to-work laws, the government makes it illegal for a business and a union to agree to a contract where
one of the stipulations is that the employer will only hire union labor, such as in closed shops. It also prevents agency shops
where an employee who is not a union member is still required to pay a union fee. This law only applies to labor unions, and not
contracts with other corporations to provide labor. It is also illegal for a union to go on strike to prevent non-union workers
from being hired.
The opponents of right-to-work laws argue that they are essentially anti-union laws. The ability of non-union employees to
benefit from collective bargaining without paying dues
creates a free rider problem, allowing employees to leave (or not join) a union
while still benefiting from the actions of that union, thus making union activities less sustainable. Levels of unionization are
typically much lower in right-to-work states, and in some cases so are average wages. (at the same time, cost of living is also
typically lower in these states) Job fatalities average about 30% higher in these states than the rest of the country, and 15 of
the 20 states with the highest rates for on the job fatalities were right-to-work. It is not clear whether these are a
consequence of lack of unionization or whether both follow from a poor overall bargaining position for workers in these states or
the low standard of living in many of these states compared to other states. The most dangerous jobs are primarily relatively low
skill and low wage, and many businesses with such jobs have relocated to these states, seeking the availability of cheaper
non-union labor. The states which have right-to-work laws tout them to businesses, seeking to attract jobs; since these states
have historically been poorer, it is difficult to separate correlation from causation. Indeed, some supporters of right-to-work
laws admit that the laws are essentially anti-union, but argue that by decreasing union rules and union power, the laws create
jobs and prevent low skill workers from being unemployable. In this, the arguments are similar to those about the minimum wage.
The following states have right-to-work laws:
Furthermore, the territory of Guam also has right-to-work laws.
Quotes concerning the right-to-work laws
"You will find some people saying that they are for the so-called 'right-to-work' law, but they also believe in unions. This
is absurd. It's like saying you are for motherhood but against children" – Harry Truman
"In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, as 'right-to-work.' It provides
no 'rights' and no 'works.' Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining… We must demand
that this fraud be stopped." – Martin Luther King
Jr.
Links
For "Right-To-Work" Laws
National Right to Work
Legal Defense Foundation (http://www.nrtw.org/a/rtwempl.htm)
National Right to Work
Committee (http://www.right-to-work.org)
National Institute for Labor Relations
Research (http://www.nilrr.org)
Against "Right-To-Work" Laws
Center for Policy Alternatives: Right to
Work—-For Less (http://www.stateaction.org/issues/issue.cfm?issue=RightToWorkForLess.xml)
Seven ways that
Oklahoma's right to work for less proposal violates the social teachings of the Catholic church (http://www.justpeace.org/rtw.htm)
www.fairwage.org - - Grassroots campaign
to repeal the Idaho Right-to-work Law (http://www.fairwage.org/)
What's wrong with "right-to-work"? (http://www.pacifier.com/~union/righttowork.html)
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