Quote:
Originally Posted by 63corvette
Jeff, since you were a big union member and supporter please explain how a National right to work would eliminate unions.
I live in Texas and as far as I know it is a right to work state.
There are lots of union shops in Texas so I do not understand how that happens.
Most of the things I know about Unions is the corruption and the thugs that run them.
One of many examples is what happened to Jimmy Hoffa.
I am not being critical of anyone who wants to belong to a union, I just think that is a personal decision and no one should be forced to join and pay into a corrupt system in many instances.
I have a friend who was in an independent union, as he explained it and he says it was great and I believed him. He retired early and enjoys a good retirement.
Just please explain if possible how a National right to work would eliminate all unions.
Thanks
Rick Cates
Canyon, TX
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I've been in Emerald Isle NC with the family for the last week. Little behind here.
Rick, whenever a Right to Work status is forced on a workforce, several things happen with the sole intent of making life hard, if not impossible for a small union to survive.
1) First, anyone is allowed to blow off the dues. So, if you don't want to join, you don't have to. I don't have a problem with this part, it's what comes next that I distain.
2) The local is required to treat a non-payer the same as a due's payer. So, if you get stiffed on your paycheck, the company balks at making it right, and you happen to be a non-payer and want to file a grievance and have the local pursue your claim, or even spend 5 grand on an arbitration, it MUST happen by the RTW laws. This is really hard on a local trying to survive. It spends our money and infuriates Stewards that are forced to take care of free loaders. Fair huh?
3) Then, once a year, at the locals cost a yearly election must be held. This ties up the local's money, and time. All "NO Shows" are counted as NO votes. So, if you have 100 members and 40 show up and vote yes, but 60 stay home, your 'voted out' and the local is dissolved. Fair huh?
4) Then there's the payroll deduction. In most RTW states it is illegal to withhold payroll deduction from a member's paycheck. It's fine if your withholding girl scouts, united way etc... everything is just as it has always been and not an issue, unless you're talking about and trying to withhold union dues. This is designed to turn the local into bill collectors. If you have an issue and can't pay, (the car broke down, dogs sick, etc) but this happens week, after week, after week. Its not very long till everyone else says, "HEY, if they're not going to pay I ain't either" and the hole system collapse's. Fair Huh?
5) It varies from state to state, but many RTW laws are written so that it is illegal to bargain for pay and benefits. You can bargain for language such as break times, work rules, major offences, etc. but the thing that's most important and the reason 90 % of folks want a union... is outlawed. Most employees' thoughts, mine included,.. is 'why have a union? What's the use? Fair huh?
As you can see, its quite clear when Trump ask for a National Right to work Bill he was not doing it for any other reason than to eliminate unions for good. There are only 10 % of the workforce still in organized labor and this would have been a death blow.
And yes, the larger Internationals can prop up RTW state unions. But it's not sustainable. And the Republicans know it. Thats the reason they have been on a 30-year RTW rampage. You will notice as soon as a state is solidly red, it's not long till the RTW legislation is forced through. Currently over 1/3 of the US is Right to Work, every single one in a very red state.
Trump has encouraged freeloaders, made it more difficult to enforce collective bargaining agreements, silenced workers and restricted the freedom to join unions:
Trump has packed the courts with anti-labor judges.
Trump has stacked the National Labor Relations Board with anti-union appointees (wall street attorneys) who side with employers in contract disputes and support companies who delay and stall union elections, misclassify workers to take away their freedom to join a union, and silence workers.
Trump has made it easier for employers to fire or penalize workers who speak up for better pay and working conditions or exercise the right to strike.
A Right to Work Union is nothing but a sham because freeloaders get the benefits others pay for.
I'm not voting for that, why would I?