Right to Work

Right to work is a law that says companies and unions can no longer negotiate and enforce a requirement that everyone covered by the collective bargaining agreement (the contract) pay dues or fees.  These provisions in a contract are called “union security” provisions.  Unions don’t automatically get union security.  They have to negotiate for it.  A right to work law says unions can’t do that anymore – they no longer have the freedom to negotiate a contract that makes sure they have the power and resources to enforce it and fight for even stronger contracts in the future. The effect of a right to work law is that workers can legally become “free riders.”  Free riders get the benefit of the contract and union representation without having to pay any dues or fees to a union. Right to work is an attack on working people. The true goal of right to work is to minimize the strength of workers and put more money into the pockets of corporations.

So-called "Right to Work" laws create "open shops" allowing nonunion workers to receive union negotiated wage increases, improved health insurance, and job security without contributing dues to the union. Negotiations through collective bargaining require resources to be effective. In open shops, union workers end up footing the bill for the nonunion workers, weakening their potential collective strength. In states with so-called "Right to Work", workers make less money, are less likely to have health insurance, and are more likely to be injured on the job. RTW is a complete misnomer and has nothing to do with the right to work on a job. RTW really represents the right to work for less, the right to higher health insurance premiums, and the right to an unsafe workplace. Closed shops are strong shops because unions work best when all workers chip in and pay a fair share. And remember: Union dues cost significantly less than the value a union brings to the workplace through better wages and benefits. It pays to be union; and it pays to repeal RTW laws!