The G.O.P. Plan to Destroy Labor Unions

[louis c]

It's called the "Right to Work Law"

Like so many of their plans, the title defies the meaning. Just as "The Clean Air Act", "The No Child Left Behind Act", "The Healthy Forest Act", "The Patriot Act", "Operation Iraqi Freedom", and on and on, this is another of their Orwellian descriptions, only it was among their first.

In states where the Republicans gained control of the state legislatures and the Governor's office, one by one they passed a "Right to Work Law". It sounds innocent enough, who shouldn't have the right to work? That's step one.

How this sinister law works is as follows. The law, when enacted in a state, such as it is in Florida, North and South Carolina, and many other Southern and Western states, outlaws a "Closed Union Shop"

I am a Union President and Business Agent, and I negotiate in a very pro-Union state (Massachusetts). Article II section 1. of our Collective Bargaining Agreement is standard in a Union contract."The Employer agrees that ...employees become and remain members of the Union as a condition of employment. The employer also agrees to terminate any Union employee who has failed to pay dues....Provided that such action is in accordance with applicable law."

That's a closed shop. Now, the anti-Union G.O.P says this is unfair, why should someone who is otherwise a good employee be fired because they refuse to join a Union? Sounds plausible. Until you see it in action.

In these right to work states, a law was passed outlawing that provision that I have just stated. Therefore folks can work without joining the Union at their facility.

Next, they strengthen the Labor laws that require all Unions to provide a "Duty of Fair Representation (DFR)". What this does is provide non-Union employees the same rights in the work place as Union employees.

They receive the same pay and benefits that a Union worker does, and only has to pay a token "negotiating fee" during the actual bargaining of the contract. In most cases, the non-Union Employee pays about $100 every three years, while the Union employee pays dues of $1000 for the same period.

Also, under DFR, the non-Union employees are provided with seniority rights, and representation rights, the same as Union employees. If a Union Representative fails to provide equal service to all employees under contract, he or she can be prosecuted under federal and state law.

The more services the Union is forced to provide non-dues paying employees, the more that the dues paying members must pay.

Pretty soon, human nature being what it is, the Union members feel like fools, "why should I pay for something that others get for nothing?" So starts the downward spiral.

Fewer members, greater expenses until finally the Union cannot be sustained, and collapses.

Then, no one is represented. Seniority is abolished. Hard fought rights in the work place no longer exist, and the G.O.P. and their Corporate allies win.

It is a story that has been repeated in many states. Someday, if they can get a stronger majority in congress, and a President who hates Unions (Bush), they can make this a Federal law, and we'll have no more Organized Labor in this country.

Please don't think it can't happen here, because it can.