[Last year, t]he business world [was] abuzz over the National Labor Relations Board's complaint vs. Boeing's new South Carolina production line. For NLRB critics, the case boils down to one thing: "right-to-work" laws.
Right-to-work states have generally lower unemployment, higher job growth, lower taxes and better business climates. They have growing populations and have been attracting businesses from other states.
In most states, once a workplace is unionized, employees are required to join the union or they can't work there. But 22 states, including South Carolina, have passed laws that give employees the right not to join. Hence the term "right-to-work."
Unions dislike these laws for the obvious reason: It reduces their membership.
Critics like the Chamber of Commerce say a union-friendly NLRB is simply punishing Boeing for choosing a right-to-work state, a charge the agency has rejected.
But if the complaint stands, it could stop firms in heavily unionized states from expanding or moving to right-to-work states. [And these states seem] to be a good deal for the workers, too. The U.S. unemployment rate is 9.1%. In right-to-work states the average is 7.9% — 8.6% adjusted for population.
Between 1977-08, employment grew 100% in right-to-work states vs. the national average of 71% and 56.5% in non-right-to-work states. That's according to a January study that Ohio University economics professor Richard Vedder did for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
In this period, real per capita income in the right-to-work states grew 62.3% vs. the national average of 54.7% and 52.8% for non-right-to-work states... Between 2000-09, about 5 million people moved to right-to-work states from other states. The population of 25- to 34-year-olds in right-to-work states has grown 16%, according to an American Legislative Exchange Council study, indicating that they "attract the most productive members of society."
Union members: it's time to throw off your shackles. The Democrat-Union Boss alliance -- and their oppressive regulations from the EPA, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Labor, and dozens of other useless bureaucracies -- are funding your destruction.
Fight back.
My brother-in-law is driving me crazy. He thinks that the unions are the beat-all get-all answer to the American woes. He is management and has never had a union job but did work for a union company once. He left when they wanted to move his job to Philly and his first wife did not want to move. I asked if unions are the answer, why did he go into business for himself and not to continue to work for a union company. He kept over riding me, that he wasn't in the union.
ReplyDeleteUnions are not the answer. Unions are the reason that America is so uncompetitive in the world. Stubborn man. I'll keep at him.
But, the hourly worker must conform to all of the other facets of the unionized workforce; there is no protected class, they simply do not pay dues to the union.
ReplyDelete...there is no protected class, they simply do not pay dues to the union...
ReplyDeleteI disagree.
If you have ever worked in a union organization with a person who is absolutely committed to taking the system for all it's worth you would not make that statement.
Unions frequently defend people who are absolute SLUGS and enable them to keep their jobs which is very de-motivational to the work force. I have personally experienced this.
There are certain acts such as theft which will get most people fired. But unions do frequently protect bad employees.
Union employees are usually great. It's the leadership that stinks.