Is “Right to Work” Wrong?
While at the Statehouse on Organization Day, I took some time to speak to some of the protesters in the hallways about potential ‘Right to Work” (RTW) legislation. I made it a point to keep an open mind and listen to their arguments against RTW. After speaking to about half a dozen or so, I have come to the conclusion that the arguments against RTW are not based on logic, but based on emotion; albeit the emotion is fear and it is the most powerful of emotions, but it still a pathos-driven argument.
I reached the conclusion that the arguments were emotionally-based, because the “logical” arguments against RTW aren’t very logical at all. Allow me to walk through the main points.
Right to Work is really right to work for less
- The data shows that when adjusted for costs of living, salaries in right to work states are comparable to non-RTW states. Here’s the link.
RTW is a way to break the unions
- Unions still exist under RTW laws, membership just can’t be compelled. If a union is providing quality service and responding to its members needs, it shouldn’t have to worry about members bolting and leaving their ranks.
RTW allow non-union workers to “freeload” off the union.
- When the employees agree to form a union, they can decide whether the collective bargaining agreement applies only to members or all employees. So if a union decides to represent people who aren’t members and aren’t paying dues then that sounds like a personal problem to me.
RTW interferes with an employer’s right to contract
- I find this argument the most intriguing. Primarily since it usually comes from people who have no problem imposing government regulations on business (i.e. smoking bans), but for some reason this regulation they have some concern.
As you can see, most of the anti-RTW arguments ring hollow. The only argument anti-RTW proponents can make is the interference with an employer’s right to contract. But like I said, it’s a little late to find Jesus on this issue when these are same people who want to overregulate business in just about every other aspect, so please forgive me if I don’t take that argument too seriously.
And for the record, union membership in this country has been declining for years. Membership was about 23% in 1983, now it’s hovering about 10%. And who was it that cut off its nose to spite its face when the GM Stamping plant had a chance to stay open? Seems to me that the unions worst enemy isn’t RTW, it’s a mirror.
