“Right to Work for Less you mean! Right to Work in Crappy Conditions you mean! Just be happy you have a job, shut up and punch in! I cannot believe sane people would support ‘right to work’ legislation. What a bunch of idiots!”
I read the above diatribe in the comments section of an article on Michigan becoming the 24th right-to-work state. It’s like it was cut and pasted from talking points emailed to members from union leaders. Better yet, it’s probably written by a union leader sitting at a desk over at headquarters. After all, union leaderships’ game is to brainwash members into believing they’re nothing without the union. Well, that’s simply false.
In Wisconsin, union membership has fallen off a cliff. Ever since Governor Walker eliminated automatic deduction of dues from members’ paychecks, they have found better use for the money, like putting food on their tables, not those of union leaders.
Union leaders never tell you that right-to-work legislation gives workers a choice whether or not they choose to join a union. They never tell you unions are still allowed to be formed. Right-to-work does not make unions illegal. It makes them compete, like the private sector, and prove their merit to members.
Companies go where they’re well treated. Indiana, which became the 23rd right-to-work state, has become a magnet for business.
The Indiana Economic Corporation reports:
“With nearly five weeks left in the year, 2012 has already broken the state’s all-time record for number of deals won,” said Dan Hasler, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “This is especially remarkable considering the ongoing concerns over the ‘fiscal cliff’ that have caused many companies to curtail investment plans.”
The 220 companies anticipate investing $3.6 billion in their Indiana operations and creating 20,866 new jobs in the coming years. These new positions pay an expected average hourly wage of $22.35, above the state’s current hourly wage of $19.66. Meanwhile, the average amount of state conditional tax incentives offered to companies on a per job basis is $8,916, down from around $37,000 in previous administrations.
“Under Governor Daniels’ leadership, this administration has taken pride in tackling challenging but common sense issues to make Indiana the most sought-after business location in the country,” Hasler said. “From its right-to-work status to its falling corporate and property taxes to its AAA credit rating, these results are proof that Indiana works for business.”
Good things come from good legislation. Right-to-work puts the power where it belongs.
