Wisconsin close to becoming 25th right-to-work state

Huron Daily Tribune ^ | March 5, 2015

[Cincinatus' Wife]

".....Economists and others who study the issue say it's too soon to draw conclusions from either state about what effect right-to-work is having.But that hasn't stopped proponents from pointing to job growth in Indiana, and detractors highlighting union membership slides in Michigan,as possible outcomes headed Wisconsin's way.

Under right-to-work,private-sector businesses cannot enter labor contracts that require workers to pay union dues. Supporters say that it's about worker freedom and that right-to-work will make Wisconsin more attractive to businesses looking to move in or expand.But opponents say the goal is to destroy unions,which they argue will hurt the economy,lower wages and endanger workplace safety.

Michigan has seen declines in union membership since right-to-work took effect there,and that's not even accounting for Detroit automakers with contracts due to expire in September.

Michigan had one of the sharpest year-to-year drops in union membership nationwide last year,declining from 16.3percent in 2013 to 14.5percent. The decrease came in the first full year under the state's right-to-work law, after union membership dipped slightly in 2012 when the law was in effect for nine months.

Union officials say another driver for the drop is a law from that year that received less attention. It declared that 42,000 in-home health care workers were no longer eligible to be represented by a union because many were family members being reimbursed by Medicaid.Unions were unable to overturn the measure at the ballot box.

While union membership is down,Michigan economic development officials have been unable to provide any examples of businesses expanding or locating in the state because of the law. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder,though,has said some companies had refused to even consider Michigan before it became a right-to-work state.

Scott Manley,lobbyist for Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce,makes similar arguments for Wisconsin,saying the state is being passed over by companies that won't even consider it without right-to-work...."

[Erik Latranyi]

Walker is doing a fantastic job!

[MAexile]

and detractors highlighting union membership slides in Michigan,as possible outcomes headed Wisconsin's way.

They make it sound like a bad thing.

[marktwain]

Unions have been given extra-constitutional priviledges and perks since Franklin Roosevelt’s regime. It is part of the Democrat power base.

[TwelveOfTwenty]

To those of you in the market for a motor cycle and want to support “Walker’s economy”, Harley Davidson is headquartered in Wisconsin, and two of the three US plants are in red states. Just sayin’.

[exDemMom]

and detractors highlighting union membership slides in Michigan, as possible outcomes headed Wisconsin's way.

And that is supposed to be a *down* side?

Under right-to-work, private-sector businesses cannot enter labor contracts that require workers to pay union dues...But opponents say the goal is to destroy unions,which they argue will hurt the economy,lower wages and endanger workplace safety.

It's really hard to make a convincing argument that unions are about protecting the workers, when the workers have to be forced to join. The fact that workers do not join when they have a choice is a big tip-off as to how most people feel about unions. As for lack of unions "endangering workplace safety"--I wonder if the idiot who made that claim has ever heard of OSHA? Every place I have ever worked has safety officers who represent OSHA and maintain safe workplaces; in fact, I represent my workplace in such a capacity.

Good going, Wisconsin! Hopefully, unions will become a relic of the past!

[DoodleDawg]

He said it would be better to examine Oklahoma, which enacted its law in 2001, the third most-recent state to do so. Union membership there dropped from 8.6 percent the year the law went into effect to 6 percent last year. And most of the economic indicators show that Oklahoma is worse off than Wisconsin, Chowdhury said.

In what way is Oklahoma worse off? Unemployment? Job growth? Salary growth? What?

The true test of right-to-work is identifying its impact on job growth and income growth. And the answers to that will take years to uncover.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Wisconsin Assembly begins debate this morning on Right-to-Work bill "MADISON (WKOW) -- The state Assembly will begin debate on the controversial Right-to-Work legislation at 9:00 a.m. Thursday morning.

The debates are scheduled for a full 24 hours. The bill cleared the Assembly's Labor Committee Wednesday night without any amendments from Democrats. It has already passed the Senate and Governor Scott Walker says he will sign it.

Right-to-Work legislation prohibits agreements between unions and private sector companies that would force workers to pay union dues as a condition of employment.

Democrats say they will continue to try and alter some of the bill's provisions through amendments during Thursday and Friday's debate."

[SunkenCiv]

Union officials say another driver for the drop is a law from that year that received less attention. It declared that 42,000 in-home health care workers were no longer eligible to be represented by a union because many were family members being reimbursed by Medicaid. Unions were unable to overturn the measure at the ballot box.

That is NOT what happened. Jenny Grandstand FORCED all hose workers into dues-paying union membership, without their having been asked, as a gift to the union involved. It took regime change to get that knocked out, but then the miserable union curs tried to get it reinstated -- Michigan's VOTERS, not "unions", voted against it -- while continuing to peddle their narrative with the ready and willing help of Partisan Media Shills.

[cripplecreek]

That is NOT what happened. Jenny Grandstand FORCED all hose workers into dues-paying union membership, without their having been asked, as a gift to the union involved.

I almost wish that were true.

GOP Senators, SEIU Taxpayer Giveaways, Campaign Cash and More, OH MY!

On Aug. 5, 2009, Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, introduced Senate Bill 731, which would give statutory cover to a scheme transferring approximately $6.6 million in taxpayer money annually to the SEIU government employee union, one of the parents of ACORN. This is accomplished by creating a shell government "employer" for some 42,000 individuals who are actually hired by elderly or disabled Medicaid recipients to provide personal care services in their homes. A Mackinac Center lawsuit is pending regarding a similar arrangement imposed on home day care providers.

snip

Senate Bill 731 was co-sponsored by these Republican Senators: Roger Kahn, Bruce Patterson, Valde Garcia, Tony Stamas, Judson Gilbert, Mark Jansen, Randy Richardville, and Patricia Birkholz.

This is why I fought so hard against Jason Allen for 1st district congressman. (Dan Benishek hasn't been much better)

[trebb]

Impressive work for someone out of the State’s normal color scheme and having to weather all the attacks. He has grit and stamina and we need someone with both.

[Lake Living]

“...opponents say the goal is to destroy unions, which they argue will hurt the economy, lower wages...”

What do they think is going to happen with all the illegals coming in and being hired? How many union members voted for Obama?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks cc!