John Morris
February 28, 2016
Ohio State is on a three-game losing streak. First was Indiana, then a surprise loss to Michigan, followed by West Virginia. Kentucky is next.
What I am talking about? Perhaps I should not have written Ohio State, as you are now likely thinking about a collegiate sport. But I needed your attention. It is not Ohio State University but the state of Ohio that is losing to its neighboring states. Ohio is now in a virtual tie with Illinois as the most unfair, uncompetitive and unfriendly state in the Midwest for workers’ rights. West Virginia just joined Indiana and Michigan in passing right-to-work legislation, and Kentucky will likely soon do the same, leaving Ohio dwelling in the cellar.
When presented with facts, not propaganda and lies, only three small groups are against passage of right-to-work (workplace freedom) legislation. These are unions who have failed to modernize in 60 years, legislators bribed by unions in exchange for doing nothing, and advertisers. Purveyors of billboards and Ohio legislators-for-hire, Rejoice! You are about to get a new windfall. Those who cherish truth in advertising and elected officials who do what is right for workers, prepare (again) to be aggravated. Unions all across Ohio will soon be doubling their propaganda campaigns and campaign contributions in an effort to ensure Ohio gets left behind.
An overwhelming majority of Ohioans support passing right to work. A recent survey showed that 68 percent of households with a union member support workplace freedom. This is because right to work accomplishes two things: It guarantees workers the right to unionize while concurrently making sure the union actually works for them. It is simple – with right to work, a union must deliver value to workers or the worker will choose to not pay dues.
Most of today’s union workers never voted to belong to the union that takes dues from their check every week. Rather, their union was formed by workers from generations before, who worked in environments that existed before the EPA, OSHA and aggressive litigators became watchdogs over industries. Those unions worked for safety and other worker rights.
Unfortunately, over the past 60-plus years, unions have simply become high-paid lobbyists disconnected from workers. Households with union workers support right to work because it guarantees value for their dues. Union bosses oppose right to work because they would much rather “wine and dine” elected officials than serve workers.
Wherever right to work has passed, none of the union propaganda lies have been realized. There are not increased deaths from unsafe conditions, nor do schools replace good teachers with cheaper ones. Instead, the number of union workers and average wages have grown along with the number of overall jobs.
In December 2015, local union boss Carolyn Park stated, “It is time that politicians here in Ohio and in Washington, D.C., got the message: Americans are tired of policies that benefit the wealthy few at the expense of everybody else.” She is absolutely correct. Not passing right to work is bad policy since it only benefits a few wealthy union bosses and lobbyists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average Ohio union leader annual salary exceeds $125,000 plus benefits. Their pay has risen every year while workers’ net pay and benefits have gone down.
Passing right to work would mean union bosses (the 1 percent) would stop benefiting from decisions made years ago and go back to working for their members. It is time for right to work to come to Ohio. Hard-working union members deserve the freedom to choose.
John Morris is president of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Ohio Valley and Northern Kentucky chapters.
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