COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio voters dealt a sharp rebuke to first-year Gov. John Kasich and his conservative agenda Tuesday by overwhelmingly rejecting the restrictive new collective bargaining law he championed. (more…)
It appears the table is being set for another contentious session of the Indiana General Assembly. It doesn’t have to be that way.
An interim study committee this week essentially said that it will revive “right-to-work” legislation.
The legislation would ban unions from requiring workers to join their ranks or pay dues.
Republicans said this week that a report compiled by the Legislature’s Interim Study Committee on Employment indicates that some businesses refuse to locate in Indiana because it is not a right-to-work state.
Right-to-work was one of the anti-labor issues that led some House Democrats to leave the state for five weeks earlier this year.
Democrats were noncommittal as to whether they would stage another walkout.
The easiest way to ensure that all legislators stay in Indianapolis is not to introduce the legislation.
Gov. Mitch Daniels earlier this year said Indiana could prosper without right-to-work. Daniels often boasts that Indiana is an attractive state for new business because of its favorable tax climate.
Unions look on right-to-work as a way to break up their organizations. They argue that workers can enjoy the benefits of union representation without paying any dues.
Studies indicate that wages, benefits and working conditions in right-to-work states are lower.
Unions rightfully see right-to-work as another assault on the working man. They are right and there’s no need for it.
CHICAGO | Thousands of people marched Monday afternoon through the streets of the Loop to try to get lawmakers and corporate interests to listen to their concerns about the economy and the direction the nation is headed — an action one Portage man said is absolutely essential.
“We’re going to make them listen,” said Bill Kalin, who was one of several United Steelworkers members who work at the mills in Gary and participated in the Chicago protest, one of several across the nation.
Kalin said he thinks too many people are willing to ignore the suffering caused by the economic struggles of recent years.
“Too many people have lost their jobs. How can we not take the time to do this?” Kalin asked. “But they don’t seem to want to listen to us.”
