Right To Work Law

The 1947 Taft-Hartley amendments to the National Labor Relations Act (1935) sanctioned a state’s right to pass laws that prohibit unions from requiring a worker to pay dues, even when the worker is covered by a union-negotiated collective bargaining agreement. (Shierholz, 2011) Right to work laws have to do with the state deciding that an employer or union can't require the employee to be a member of the union to get a job. Many feel that it gives the union too much power in the workplace. The right to work law also prohibits labor unions from forcing employees to pay union dues if they do not want union protection and makes it easier for the union to take responsibility towards employees not protected. Right to work law allows workers who …show more content…
An employer can fire an employee at will without just cause, and it allows employers to terminate without giving a reason. Unions are a benefit to the worker because they provide job security, higher wages, health insurance, and contributions to a pension plan. Right to work law makes it illegal for unionized workers to negotiate a fair contract that requires the employees who enjoy the benefits of the contract to pay their share of costs for negotiating the contract. This clause limits the financial strength of unions, reducing their strength and ability to negotiate positive contracts, higher wages, and better health benefits. Compensation for employees increases when unions are strong even for workers who don’t contribute to the …show more content…
Right to Work law makes unions less powerful by not forcing employees to pay union dues while working in an unionized position. The law destroys unions and keeps workers from having a bargaining voice with employers. Without unions, employers have the option to pay their workers less in wages and benefits. Most unions negotiate with employers to provide a fair living wage to employees. Many unions advocate for their member's education, fair wages, protection of workers and civil rights. Without union representation, an employer can remove the union once membership has dropped below fifty percent. Unions defend the rights of members; non- members who do not join the union reaps the benefits of a union contract, such as better wages and working conditions even though they have not contributed by paying their fair share of union dues. If members have jobs to pay union dues, many union leaders should have the ability to serve its members based on labor conditions and how well the economy is doing. Union membership contributes to economic growth by providing a good living wage for workers, benefits, and job