A study was released earlier this week that stated that
states utilizing Right-to-Work laws were falling behind those that supported
unions in a variety of benchmark categories, including wages and poverty
levels, among others. Right-to-Work laws allow citizens to be hired into the
private sector without belonging to a specific union. While this may seem like
it supports the American notion of freedom, it can actually prove to be
detrimental to wages as a whole, and in some cases allow for individuals to free
ride on the heels of a union. Because unions are just that, a union, allowing
for extraneous workers in the job pool eliminates their ability to negotiate,
and can result in citizens losing out on benefits or wage increases that would
otherwise result from collective bargaining.
Yet, the picture is not so black and white, support (albeit
waning) does remain for Right-to-Work laws. In argument for the laws,
politicians cite the injustice involved in forcing any citizen to become a part
of a union or group. It is their belief that as Americans, protected by the
constitution, we should be able to work where we want, and associate with who
we want, free of fees.
Thus, there is a dilemma involved in the creation and
enforcement of this public policy. Is it just to impose unions if those unions
protect US citizens and allow them to benefit from collective bargaining? Or,
would be better off allowing a “free” market to reign, where everyone would be
allowed to fend for themselves. There is evidence that would support either
notion (or in the case of the article below, the notion for unions), but the
answer is not yet clear.
Article: http://badgerherald.com/news/2015/01/27/new-study-suggests-right-to-work-law-is-doing-more-harm-than-good/#.VMwGJY1dVLT
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