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Facts Again Show ‘Right to Work’ Is Right to Work Less
Indiana working families are gearing up to fight state Republican lawmakers’ attempt to ram through a “right to work” for less bill—and a new report reveals the corporate lies behind backers’ claims that “right to work” laws boost wages.
Marty Wolfson, an economics professor at the University of Notre Dame’s Higgins Labor Studies Program, finds that contrary to proponents’ claims—such as those by the Chamber of Commerce, the extremist American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and others—so-called right to work laws actually lower wages for all workers, union and nonunion alike.
While Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) and Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma (R) wave around statistics-loaded reports they claim show how such laws increase wages, those reports, says Wolfson, cook the books by using unreliable and biased figures.
“Right to work” for less advocates also claim that wages in so-called right to work states are actually higher than elsewhere, after taking into account the variable cost of living. The formula the Chamber and others use compares the cost of living for professional and managerial households in the top income brackets.
Gordon Lafer, a professor at University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center, says that formula “doesn’t tell us about real costs of living for the other 80 percent of people.”
It may be that the cost of country club memberships or personal trainers are low in a given city, but that doesn’t make things easier for regular employees.
Notre Dame’s Wolfson finds that when a more reliable cost-of-living methodology is used—one that aims at measuring costs for an average family rather than the most privileged—we see that so-called right to work states actually have lower wages—even when adjusting for cost of living.
Click here for the full report.
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25 Comments
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Herr Goebbels’ propaganda machine thrived on carefully crafted phrases that were lies for the ugly truths hidden underneath: “resettlement” camps, “Work will make you free”, and God help you if they “liberated” your country!.
So-called “right to work” laws were so labeled in the 1950s. “Right to work for less” is a much more truthful title. Other more recent lies include: “death tax” (it sounds less appealing than “estate tax.”); “trickle down economic theory” (they didn’t mention what would be trickling down on us– hint: it’s not money; “Obamacare”, which sounds scarier than “universal health care”; “deregulation”, which sounds much better than “monopolist free-for-all”; and “tax reform”, which has a much more noble sound than “millionaire tax cut.”
These games with words are LIES meant to fool the 99% into voting against our own self interest. The more we learn to cut through these hypocritical fibs, the better we will be prepared to make decisions that will get us better paying jobs, keep us from getting ripped off by the 1%, and help us achieve a better quality of life.
Well said, progresso. As a resident of North Dakota, a RTW for less state (has been for decades!) when the opportunity came up for me to decide for myself to join the ranks of the Teamsters I said YES. Even though no one asked me if I wanted to consider becoming a member I knew it was the right thing to do, for me and my family.
The word games played by government officials have to be understood by all of us so we can effectively counter their intended effects on our friends, family, neighbors and co-workers when discussing these issues. It also helps immeasurably to know and understand the legislation of your own state’s RTW laws; most, if not all, can be found through on-line sources.
Stand strong, know your rights, support our unions (all of them), and support polictical candidates who support us!
Here we go again, right wing politicians out to destroy workers rights but with the unions successes in Wisconsin, Ohio etc and the growing activists Occupy movement these creeps won’t get away with this in Indiana or elsewhere. Workers are mad as hell and will remember on election day. We and our fasmlies will make them pay on Tuesday November 6, 2012
Just goes to show you the goernor is not a very smart man
The people who want to counter the false information that the chanbers of commerce puts out should use Texas as an example of lower wages for all working people who are not in the top echelon of money grabbers. Working people are the real money makers for the ultra rich. We are the ones that all politicians want to make pay more in taxes because they, like all corporations, consider us as liabilities rather than as an asset. Without US, the working class, even WALL STREET would cease to exist. Greedy people, who are in control, will never admit that the working class are the real consumers, in this country as well as most of the rest of the civilized world. The worst consumers are the military budgets. I would like to see the people WHO CLAIM TO BE FOLLOWING GOD, no matter what religion, live up to their claim and give PEACE AND FAIRNESS A CHANCE. Prove that you really believe what you say.
Quala, you are a soul mate as are the other participants-working hoosiers need now to fight the good fight their buckeye comrades did last year against the evil of Kaisch and his cronies!! Good luck to all who face this oppression!
Right to work for less = right to be slaves for the wealthy
People of Tennesse have had the “Right To Work” law in effect for years. William Y is right,it’s gives the for the rich and corp’s the right to work people like slaves. The Repiglikkkon propoganda machine has been working overtime in Tn. for years and convinced many people that unions and workers rights are bad for the state.If it were possible these right wing low lifesob’s here would turn the state back to the 1800′s. They’re biggoted,lying low life hypocrite racist sob’s. Yet they want to stand behind the veil of religion and call themselves good upstanding moral Christain people. They’re anything but that.
“Repiglikkkon,” John? Talk about the creative use of language! This will keep me chuckling all day!
If anybody envies Alabama’s average wage, they are deluded. We have suffered from a “Right to Work Cheap” law for decades. Why do you thing Asian and European corporations are now moving to Alabama to get cheap, non-union labor. Poverty abounds.
If anybody envies Alabama’s average wage, they are deluded. We have suffered from a “Right to Work Cheap” law for decades. Why do you think Asian and European corporations are now moving to Alabama to get cheap, non-union labor. Poverty abounds.
They use the word ‘work’ in the phrase “Right to Work” as a verb, not a noun. That is, work, as in “I am going to work you like a dog, I am going to work you until you drop, – you are going to work like a slave.” The purpose of work, under capitalism, is simply to enrich the capitalist who does not work. His only work is to make sure the government prevents the exploited from turning the tables on the wealthy and their system of theivery called ‘free enterprise’. The only question is, will the working class wake up in time, and develop a leadership capable of carrying the fight all the way, before capitalists, through global warming and pollution, destroy this planet’s ability to sustain higher life forms. We used to say that time is on our side, but now, the clock is ticking, and time is running out. The last thing we should do is waste any more time supporting one evil over another because we have been taught to percieve it as somewhat of a lesser evil.
Same old ,Same old.
people of indiana do not allow this to happen the very same has led to slashed wages and sending are work over seas as a kansas resident we are all suffering of this stupidity whatever it takes to stop this garbage do it now nip it in the bud your very livlihoods depend upon it!
Solidarity-1
The arguement by Republican governors, legislators, including republican members of Congress, that Right To Work laws improve wages is laughable while sad. For starters, isn’t it the Republicans that oppose any increase in the minimum wage?
Also, unions exist by a majority vote of workers. Public office holders are elected by majority vote. However, a unionized job in a Right to Work state requires that all employees be represented even though the employees that voted against the union can elect not to pay dues and remain eligibile for all union negotiated benefits. These employees are know as freeloaders and the intent is to bust the union.
If the same criteria existed in all public elections those not voting for the winner should not have to pay dues (taxes) and still remain eligibile for all benefits. Considering that priciple I ask any elected office holder to convince union members that Right to Work laws are in their interest or the state and national interest. R to W laws are nothing but union busting laws that publicly elected officials do not requirer of themselves that which they require of unions in R to W states.
Ask yourselves this question. Can you name two or three laws in your life time that Republicans introduced, pushed through passage and signed by the governor or the President that benefited workers?
Too bad every time workers get raises prises rise Wages should cut into profits and esecutives pay. instead, of raising
prises.
Having a little trouble expressing myself lately, getting a little angry so I’ll make it short but sweet. Rot in hell gop lawmakers.
Im in new Mexico and we have ths stupid law and all we can get here are call centers with low wages. Wages that people cannot support. the workers have no rights or say and you can be terminated for no reason or without an explanation. Dont turn you workforce to be similar to a socialist state.
Jim is 100% right. The right to work states have always come up last in just about all categories of standred of living. High school Graduation rates Alabama rank #43, Louisiana #47 Look at Nevada #51 also a wrght to work for less state. Number #1 maybe the best teachers in America it is a Union State and that dope Governor took there right’s away. Hell of guy. Right. If any of good Union People out there want some facts about the right to work for less just pick up The World Almannac and book of facts. You will find some things that the Republicans have lied about for years. Right to work laws are the single worst thing that can happen to a good union state.
So now, Indiana seeks to take the lead in the USA’s race to the bottom. The only thing that can stop this slide into the abyss is worker’s power, led by unions that are completely independent – completely independent of either of the twin parties which the capitalists own because they have bought them. Rather than any futile attempts to wrest control of the Democratic Party from the superrich, we should be seeking to wrest control of the government, the airwaves and the plants and mills from the superrich. To do that, we need our own party, which only answers to the disposessed majority, and seeks the imprisonment of all those who are now our rich and powerful masters.
I live in Illinois, which isn’t an official right to work state, but it is still an at-will state, as is every US state except Montana. That means that your employer can fire you for any reason including seeminly trivial things such as the wrong political bumper sticker on one’s vehicle. We all know that “at will” works the other way around too, but there usually is a vast difference between actually being fired as opposed to leaving on your own. Of course there are some, such as the Bears GM who was fired yesterday, who don’t have to worry so much. He had two years left on his contract, which means he can spent that time playing golf and going fishing. Most of us working stiffs aren’t anywhere near that lucky. Would be nice if we could also negotiate those kinds of contracts. BTW, has any state that has RTW ever voted to repeal it?
I live in Florida – a so-called “Right to Work” (for less) state. In my own experience doing temporary work, I have seen numerous OSHA violations, people work overtime and holidays without getting paid, loss of all benefits including vacations, and people being “let go” without warning or reason for termination. I worked a temporary job once at an arena where we all were led outside by the dumpster for our lunch, and had to stand up while eating! There is a complete disregard for the worker and a lack of respect. In spite of the usual ‘Rights’ postings on the walls, there are absolutely no rights for workers. There is no policy regarding termination nor is it confidential when someone gets discharged. I would advise anyone thinking of coming here not to if you have to work. It was the same in AZ – another “Right to work” (for less) state. I’ve spoken to people who work for large corporations, such as hospitals, who say working there is a horror show. If we lose our unions, this is how it will be for all workers. Is this what you want? Every word here is the Gospel truth. The trouble with the natives here, and what is truly sad, is that they don’t know any different, and live and work in fear of losing their jobs.
Each and every one of these comments should be availabe for all Americans who wonder what “Right to work’ (for less) really means. They should be printed in a booklet and passed out to everyone. So much wisdom and knowledge in such a small space is amazing! Thank you everyone, for all your insight.
If we had just kept up Labor’s historic mission to reduce the hours of labor (required to earn a decent — middle class –living) as our productivity was increased, instead of layoffs, declining union membership, and sometimes overtime, Right to Work for less would mean all American citizens are guaranteed employment for far less than 40 hours at a genuine live on able weekly wage. We should stand their Right to Work down side up. Feet down, head up. Make Right to work mean guaranteed employment and right to work for less mean less hours, more free time. (and if you have to work extra hours “just to get by” sue the sons of guns, instead of thanking the boss)
With long term unemployment (seeCEPRtoday)getting worse and worse, and productivity being more the reason than exporting jobs, We have to turn “right to work” especially “right to work for less” upside down. Or rather back, feet on ground, head up. Right to work should mean every citizen is guaranteed employment and “for less” should mean “less hours” for a weekly wage adequate to buy what one must for one’s family to “be competitive” in the current labor market. Now people with jobs can’t get by without overtime, and more and mOre have no job