Thousands in protest of the recent budget proposal by Republican Gov. Scott Walker are entering their third week outside of the Capitol Building in Wisconsin.
In an effort to combat Wisconsin’s multibillion dollar deficit, Walker’s proposal would limit the collective bargaining rights of state and local employees, as well as limit unions’ ability to negotiate salaries and working conditions.
There have even been reports that there are so many protestors in the capitol that nearby University of Wisconsin students are having trouble focusing on their schoolwork. But don’t worry; there have been no reports of the protestors badgering the students.
On a smaller scare, hundreds of Missourians rallied at their capitol in Jefferson City this morning. These protestors, who call themselves part of the “American Dream Rally,” have made it their mission to voice their opposition to Missouri becoming a right-to-work state. Right-to-work laws are statutes enforced in 22 states which prohibit agreements between labor unions and employers making membership or payment of union dues a condition of employment.
Under the Employee Free Choice Act, if the majority of the workers are in support of forming a union, then the union would be certified as the official union to bargain with an employer over things such as wage and healthcare benefits.
If Missouri were to become a right-to-work state, then an employee who didn’t want to be part of the union could simply choose not to pay union dues. And while I have nothing wrong with an employee deciding that he or she doesn’t want to be a part of a union, the problem is he or she would still be able to reap the benefits the other workers who actually pay union dues would receive.
Unions engage in collective bargaining for all of the employees instead of just the ones who support the union. So, if the union and the employer decide on a five percent wage increase, the employer would be giving said raise to everyone —even if certain workers aren’t paying union dues, but merely freeloading off those who do.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for non-right-to-work states is almost six thousand dollars higher than right-to-work states. The percentage of the population without health insurance of non-right-to-work states is 13.4 percent, compared to the 16.1 percent in right to work states.
There have been claims that in non-right-to-work states, less people get hired because of the higher wages and benefits. But again, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state poverty rates for non-right-to-work states is 10.2 percent, as opposed to the 13.4 percent poverty rate in right-to-work states.
The reason why this occurs is the inconsistencies allocated when dealing with the right-to-work law make it easier for those to free load off of union benefits, while others actually pay their dues in order to get higher wages and more benefits.
