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The Truth About "Right to Work" |
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A Message from President Albert Garrett We don’t need ‘right to work’! Every AFSCME member should take a moment to reflect on the value of having a Union in their workplace. The AFSCME Advantage improves the quality of life for members, their families, and society in general: Unions benefit all workers. Unions have raised the standard of living for us here in Michigan through better wages, affordable health benefits, pensions, and workplace safety standards. We are now witnessing an organized attack on Unions funded by radical right wing interests. “Right to work” bills have been introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. These bills are intended to weaken Unions and the process of collective bargaining. Far too many print media and radio outlets have carried stories touting “right to work” as the solution to Michigan’s economic woes. Pundits from arch-conservative think tanks are instantly available to spout their anti-Union venom for such articles. Representatives of the “National Right to Work Committee” were in our state in June, 2007 and secured $3 million in commitments to put the issue on the 2008 ballot. This is a very bad idea. “Right to work” laws - more properly termed “right to work for less” laws - impose an unfair burden on Union members who want to join the Union and pay their fair share. These laws are intended to suppress Union membership, drag the Union down from “free riders” and weaken the Union’s ability to provide aggressive representation at the bargaining table, in the halls of government, and in contract administration. It’s no wonder unscrupulous employers and right wing fanatics would love to pass “right to work” in Michigan. What would “right to work” mean to you, as Michigan’s working families? • Workers in “right to work” states
earn $5,900 a year less. . . Michigan has seen some tough economic times, but there is no evidence that “right to work” is the solution we need. There is plenty of evidence that “right to work” would leave our state with a diminished quality of life that would drive away good employers and the young workers who are the future of our great state. We don’t need “right to work.” |
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A Message from Mark Gaffney, President of the Michigan State AFL-CIO |
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A Message from Saundra Williams, President of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO |
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Links for More Truth About "Right to Work" |
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The Wage Penalty of "Right-to-Work" Laws - Economic Policy Institute |
Right to Work—For Less - stateaction.org |
| E-mail your State Representative and Senator | |
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Just the Facts Fact Sheet What's at Stake? Healthcare Q & A More Truth People of Color Women Wages Stop "Right to Work" Anti-Worker Agenda Unions: Good for Community Talking Points Unions Bring Healthcare |
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Michigan Labor Unites and Flexes Its Muscle Against Right to Work for Less |
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