Unions were formed in order to negotiate with company leaders on behalf of the workers. Without labor unions, working folks will undisputedly have lower wages, less safe working conditions, and fewer benefits. Why? Well, they simply lack the solidarity from unions and their power to negotiate with company leaders. Before labor unions, we had child labor, uncannily long workdays (and weeks!) without breaks (including weekends), and virtually no benefits such as pensions, pregnancy/parental and sick leaves, and employer health care insurance (Check out this Daily Kos post for a longer list of “Why [We] Should Thank a Union”).
Although the “Right-to-Work” law seemingly protects workers from "forcibly" paying membership fees for these unions to organize as well as protects the workers' "liberty" to choose, it essentially weakens labor unions and their ability to protect the workers from big businesses. Furthermore, as Cent Uygur from The Young Turks explains, while setting workers against one another and diminishing their rights, this law ironically allows for freeloaders in attempts to preventing freeloaders. Though no worker can be forced to join a union, “…if the union represents you and they get you higher wages, pensions, etc. Then you have to pay dues…But ‘Right-to-Work’ says… you don’t have to pay...” despite still receiving the same benefits achieved through members. This is not to stay unions are magical, perfect entities, which protect workers and grant more desirable working conditions. There is corruption and disorder amongst several union organizations as well. Yet they provide a much needed service for workers by representing and bargaining with the company leaders.
The consequences of “Right-to-Work” laws for our economy and society are hard to say. For in these states, “the conservative parts of America are generally poorer than the liberal parts, but also faster-growing” (Slate) . In other words, the economy may boost but the wealth inequality will widen - which will actually lead to more families in need of food stamps and other welfare programs. Additionally, compared to free-bargaining states, the average worker in a “Right-to-Work” state makes approximately $5,333 less per year; 21% more workers lack health insurance (the number one source of debt for people in the United States); many receive lower workers’ compensation benefits when injured on the job; and there is a 51% higher rate of workplace deaths and injuries (Allison Kilkenny on the Young Turks; In These Times). For these reasons, I believe Texas should re-consider and revoke its “Right-to-Work” state status.
In closing, I’d like to share these cogent words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
Although the “Right-to-Work” law seemingly protects workers from "forcibly" paying membership fees for these unions to organize as well as protects the workers' "liberty" to choose, it essentially weakens labor unions and their ability to protect the workers from big businesses. Furthermore, as Cent Uygur from The Young Turks explains, while setting workers against one another and diminishing their rights, this law ironically allows for freeloaders in attempts to preventing freeloaders. Though no worker can be forced to join a union, “…if the union represents you and they get you higher wages, pensions, etc. Then you have to pay dues…But ‘Right-to-Work’ says… you don’t have to pay...” despite still receiving the same benefits achieved through members. This is not to stay unions are magical, perfect entities, which protect workers and grant more desirable working conditions. There is corruption and disorder amongst several union organizations as well. Yet they provide a much needed service for workers by representing and bargaining with the company leaders.
The consequences of “Right-to-Work” laws for our economy and society are hard to say. For in these states, “the conservative parts of America are generally poorer than the liberal parts, but also faster-growing” (Slate) . In other words, the economy may boost but the wealth inequality will widen - which will actually lead to more families in need of food stamps and other welfare programs. Additionally, compared to free-bargaining states, the average worker in a “Right-to-Work” state makes approximately $5,333 less per year; 21% more workers lack health insurance (the number one source of debt for people in the United States); many receive lower workers’ compensation benefits when injured on the job; and there is a 51% higher rate of workplace deaths and injuries (Allison Kilkenny on the Young Turks; In These Times). For these reasons, I believe Texas should re-consider and revoke its “Right-to-Work” state status.
In closing, I’d like to share these cogent words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
“In our glorious fight for civil rights,
we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as ‘right to work.’
It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights.
Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining
by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone…
Wherever these laws have been passed,
wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer and there are no civil rights.
We do not intend to let them do this to us.
We demand this fraud be stopped.
Our weapon is our vote.”
we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as ‘right to work.’
It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights.
Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining
by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone…
Wherever these laws have been passed,
wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer and there are no civil rights.
We do not intend to let them do this to us.
We demand this fraud be stopped.
Our weapon is our vote.”
1 comment:
Union rights is a heated topic for me being from Wisconsin, where there was a recent debate over collective bargaining rights. Wisconsin was the very first state to provide collect bargaining rights in 1959, yet a year ago, there was an imminent threat to strict public employees of these rights. I truly believe in the effectiveness of unions and the rights that go with them, especially since my mother worked for the public school system for over 30 years and the union fought hard to represent her through her battle for disability benefits. According to the Wall Street Journal, by 2010, 36.2% of public workers were in unions compared to 6.9% in the private sector. This significant increase in the number of union workers and collective bargaining rights directly correlated with the increase in state and local government jobs. The growth in state and local government jobs was double the rate of population growth. Although this This clearly shows the effectiveness of unions in providing and securing jobs.
I believe that Jessa has some very valid concerns with the option of the "Right to Work." This potential to choose whether or not to pay union dues as a member seems very inefficient. The unions were created to support and represent the workers, and by only having some members contribute to the dues while all workers reap the benefits is not appropriate. As Jessa states, I think that continuing to allow "Right to Work" law could ultimately weaken the union and the foothold they currently possess, as well as compromise the integrity of the union and the safety of the workers in that union.
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