Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) just introduced a federal so-called “right to work” law that would undermine labor organizing nationwide. Here’s an excerpt from his press release touting the legislation:
“Every American worker deserves the right to freedom of association – and I am concerned that the 26 states that allow forced union membership and dues infringes on these workers’ rights. Right to work laws ensure that all Americans are given the choice to refrain from joining or paying dues to a union as a condition for employment. Nearly 80 percent of all Americans support the principles and so I have introduced a national Right to Work Act that will require all states to give their workers the freedom to choose.”
The fact is, no one is forced to join a union. What so-called “right to work” laws allow is for workers to receive union benefits without paying union dues, which undermines the ability for unions to represent workers.
Researchers from the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute have found that the economies of states who have these laws “are associated with significantly lower wages and reduced chances of receiving employer-sponsored health insurance and pensions.” They estimated that hourly wages for all workers — not just union workers — in these states are 3% lower.
There has never been a serious push for a national “right to work” law, making Paul’s effort fairly unique. The National Right To Work Committee gave $7,500 to Paul’s campaign, and Koch Industries — which bankrolls state-wide efforts to install these laws — is his third largest contributor.
This country should be welcoming unions to provide a living wage to employees and not allow big corporations to bankrupt america by paying employees nothing and living off public assistance
I contributed today the number they called me from was
703 770 2249 a Virginia # . I wanted to post, confirm and verify that and make sure from my end the small donation I made went legitimatly to you.
I donated to Rand Paul’s efforts today and my name is average Joe, not Koch.
This Bill S.204 will be the Best modifications to current laws since they were written and I think American workers would have been better off it the laws were originally written as the Bill’s amendments suggest.
Unions are too powerful and today they work With Corporate Interests and Against Workers.
what are you high or just plain stupid im a UAW worker!!!!im very proud to be in a union member!!!i take you are in mgmt or collage educated and never worked for minnimum wage job!!!huh?ever have a manager threaten you with being fired because they thought it was funny!!!talk down to you and you can’t say anything are they will be fired with no good reason!!!i make a living wage not below poverty level!!!i got this because unions!!!they will stand up for you so your not alone!!!with out the union go tell your boss he is wrong,stand up for yourself see how long you have a job!!!
Really unions are too powerful. What country are you living in? Union membership is at a all time low and workers wages and benefits have not go up for years either. Think there might be a correlation between less employee bargaining power(less unions) and lower wages and benefits? People should be careful what they wish for.
joe’s statement is by far the stupidest I’ve ever heard. I have been on both sides of the fence and I can tell you, unions do NOT work against workers. 40hr/wk, vacation,overtime–that’s working against workers? I’ve been at small business’s and from my experience, most treat their employees like crap. you want to work 50hrs straight time, fine–don’t push it on me.
Joe Smith knows NOT of what he speaks. He is either very uninformed or a plant from the management side of things.
If Unions had the power that he claims, we would have jobs that paid a living wage.
Further: Right to work actually means…
Right to work… FOR LESS!
When unions get higher wages for their members by restricting entry into an occupation, those higher wages are at the expense of other workers who find their opportunities reduced.
When government pays its employees higher wages, those higher wages are at the expense of the taxpayer.
But when workers get higher wages and better working conditions through the free market, when they get raises by firm competing with one another for the best workers, by workers competing with one another for the best jobs, those higher wages are at nobody’s expense. They can only come from higher productivity, greater capital investment, more widely diffused skills. The whole pie is bigger – there’s more for the worker, but there’s also more for the employer, the investor, the consumer, and even the tax collector.
— Milton Friedman
He is a clown.
Why don’t you work on a bill to make the people on public assistance work for what they recieve. And not try to kill the working class people for what they donate….
hes an animal!
Ok unions due force you to join to work at UW hospital madison !! Oh sorry they give you the option to join or opt out but they tell you they will still be taking union dues from your check, (but your not in the union ) also if you opt out of union to stand up for your own wage , you are not allowed to talk to hospital about your raises or your pay ! Only unions (big business unions ) yes unions are the big business , they are in 2013 , no different than the same corporations that are taking all the money from the people that actually work in this country ! So in truth people need to research themselves what the truth is call the UW hospital in Madison WI and ask about unions and how they actually work ask the right questions as they say opt out, buy still steal your money , so yes big union corporations stealing workers money in the name of the worker !! Bull
They already have that freedom you idiot.
They pay their dues for insurance and pensions. And for representation and schooling. We choose to do this for our own benefits. Let our voices be heard !
If is wasn’t for my union I wouldn’t have the benefits or retirement that I would not receive through a non- union company. I wouldn’t receive overtime or all the perks of what my union offers me. Mr. Rand Paul do some better research but you must own your open company. The only ones that want this is the owners to get rid of the extra cost so it goes in their pockets (Greedy mongroals)
Being in construction unions are a must other than what is given with a non union company. I have worked both and I am Damn proud to be union.
Thought you might be someone that wants to help this country but that right to work bullshit is just what it is BULLSHIT. IT ONLY MAKE SURE THE WAGES ARE CONTROLED BY THE MONEY GRUBBING BASTERDS THAT KEEP US POOR. Mr Rand Paul don’t want anyone like you in my corner just stay over there with that crowd you been lieing for.
The last paragraph is false. The writer complains about an anti union organization contributed $7,500 to Paul’s campaign. Now how about the millions the unions gave to obama’s campaign. How many companies left the USA for China because the unions drove up the cost of products thereby coming close to clouding down businesses.
This country needs unions now more than ever! Watch Morgan spurlock inside man and his special on unions. Anyone that says unions are too powerful today is a fool. Or a paid stooge. Rand Paul has no ones best interests at heart but his own and rich cronie friends.
abomination in a wig and red tie.
The Kochs are an insidious cancer attempting to overthrow the U.S. They, and anyone associated with them should be charged with treason.
Wait. Your story says workers could get union benefits without joining – and I’m assuming without paying union dues. That’s a bad thing? Then you go on to say dif in pay is just 3%? Wtf do union members pay for then? I’m assuming the union dues would be at least .5% – so gain is 2.5% or even less? I think you just made case for national right to work. Lol.
America do not have any right to interfere in the internal affairs of other independent country’s and states.This not our business.
America is not the world police.Leave the Arabs alone.Not just the Arabs leave everybody alone.
We did make enough damage for the Arab world.They suffered enough of us.We should be shame our self,we kill 600000 civilians in Iraq what the pentagon admitted.This number is much much higher.What was the reason?
We make to move Mobutu Egypt,and kill Qaddafi from Libya,now we go after Syria president Bashar al-Assad.America can not live peacefully?
America is a paranoid war machine or what?Is no president in US history who make this much damage for this nation then George Bush and his buddies.Are you wonder why George Bush disappear from the public eyes because he shame him self.Those gangsters rob this nation.
Illegal war,loan from China,loan from Japan,trillions of dollar depth.That’s why the country suffering.Bush,Rumsfeld,Chaney,Paulson,Rove,and rest of the republicans who rob this nation should be setting in jail.Shame on this 300 million people can not find out who responsible for this economic down hill. Used the taxpayers money get in to a illegal war.Kill 5000 young Americans,seriously injured close to 40 thousand soldiers,and kill 600 thousand ancient civilians/kids,woman’s,mans, elderly peoples/
Questions W H Y.Good J O B republicans.This is all fact.Shame on you republicans who was involved in.
They suffered enough of us.We should be shame our self,we kill 600000 civilians in Iraq what the pentagon admitted.This number is much much higher.What was the reason?
We make to move Mobutu Egypt,and kill Qaddafi from Libya,now we go after Syria president Bashar al-Assad.America can not live peacefully?
America is a paranoid war machine or what?
Again leave the Arabs alone.
Sincerely
John
You don’t like a union don’t apply for a union job.
we dont need to atack another country .we are not the world police.i am a life long republican.i think this is a bad choice. hope you run for president next time around .step in and stop this shit with syria .its world war 3.american people are scared.none off my ellected officials will return my phone calls.i think obama wants the muslem brotherhood to run the middle east.stop it .i thought years ago that your dad was nuts.now i love your ole man,.lets not go to war man.i hope somebody reads this shit.and john kerry is a sack of dog —-!!!!!!!!!!
You are clearly a smart / educated man but why you stated on national news that our government is solvent should we exceed the default date on the horizon. How can you in good concious make such an irresponsible comment. Shame on you!! Now and FOREVER . . .