Thursday, March 12, 2015

Freedom to Work

                Wisconsin made the news again on March 9, 2015, as it became the 25th Right to Work State.  Republican Governor Scott Walker signed the legislation making a “historic moment” for the right-to-work movement.  This action in Wisconsin means that half of the states in the Union have given their workers the right “to stop paying dues to a union they feel is not representing their interests.” 

                Wisconsin joins the following states in being states with right-to-work laws:  Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

                Reading the list of the names of the Right-to-Work States is not quite the same as seeing them marked on a map.  As you can see these states have a solid hold across the South (with the exception of New Mexico); the right-to-work movement seems to be moving up the East Coast and moving through the Midwestern States and the Mountain States.  Some states with union workers are surrounded by those with right-to-work laws.  These circumstances beg questions about how many workers move from union states to right to work states for the sake of freedom to work!

                James Sherk, the Heritage Foundation expert on right-to-work laws, wrote“Despite vehement pushback from union officials, Walker stood with the majority of voters nationwide and in Wisconsin who support workplace freedom.  Without right-to-work, workers have little protection from their own union, which can seize part of their paycheck without their consent.  Right-to-work lets workers decide whether or not their union has earned their support.”


                As you can plainly see, Alaska is still ruled by unions.  Without bordering right-to-work states, Alaska may be the final state passing right-to-work laws.  As for now, the unions seem to have a solid hold on Alaskans.

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