(Thank you Cordelia, this is great! - promoted by Christine)
Let's take a closer look at what Right-to-Work really means. And, don't be fooled for a minute about what Mike Bishop or Nancy Cassis say they want for Michigan wokers.
For several sessions running, the Republicans in the legislature have introduced bills to make this a right-to-work (for less) state. Michigan workers have nothing to gain from this legislation.
A recent issue of the UAW's Solidarity magazine identified specifics. (The article is no longer online. It appeared in Sept. 2006 print issue also.)
* Right-to-work laws lower wages for everyone. The average worker in a right-to-work state makes about $4,830 a year less than workers in other states ($31,829 compared with $26,998). Working families in states without right-to-work laws have higher wages and benefit from healthier tax bases that improve thier quality of life.
* Supporters claim right-to-work laws protect employees from being forced to join unions. However, federal law already does this, as well as protecting non-members from paying for union activities that violate their religious or political beliefs. This individual freedon argument is a scam.
* Right-to-work endangers workplace safety and haelth standards. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of workplace deaths is 41 percent higher in states with righ-to-work, where unions can't speak up on behalf of workers.
