Bureau of Labor Education Issues Briefing Paper on ‘Right-to-Work’
Contact: William Murphy (william.murphy@umit.maine.edu)
ORONO – The Bureau of Labor Education at the University of Maine has issued a six page briefing paper discussing some of the pitfalls of “right-to-work” legislation, currently being proposed in the Maine State Legislature.
As a public policy analysis, the paper discusses the nature and purpose of right-to-work laws, stating that workers, families and Maine’s economy could be jeopardized if such a law were passed.
In its analysis, the Bureau of Labor Education paper compares the 22 “right to work” states with the 28 “free bargaining” states where employers and workers are free to negotiate union security clauses. Such agreements stipulate that all workers who receive the benefits of a collective bargaining agreement pay their share of the costs of union representation.
The study cites government data that shows, on average, right-to-work states have lower incomes and reduced wages than free-bargaining states, as well as having higher poverty rates. According to the paper, studies also show that these differences are not simply due to differences in the cost of living in these states.
The paper maintains that right-to-work laws are not needed to protect non-union members, since the rights of non-union members are already protected by federal law.
The introduction of the paper states: “there are many misconceptions about ‘right-to-work’ laws. This sounds like it would be a plus for working people. However, this term is misleading, and a distortion of the reality underlying it. Despite its name, right-to-work laws do not guarantee anyone a job, protect against unfair firing, guarantee equitable wages, or decent working conditions.”
The entire paper is available on the Bureau of Education website. For further information, contact Bureau of Labor Education Director William Murphy at william.murphy@umit.maine.edu.