'Right to Work' = States Are Really Restricted Rights States

'Right to Work': It's not a right to a = job=97it's a=20 free ride=20

=93Right to work=94 has nothing to = do with a right=20 to a job or employment. The deceptively named =93right to = work=94 laws=20 ban workers=97who by a majority vote decided to form a union = in their=20 workplace=97and employers from negotiating union security = clauses. By=20 law, unions must represent all workers=97members and = nonmembers=97in=20 contract negotiations and other workplace issues. =

Wages=20 Are Lower in
'Right to Work'=20 = States

Source: State Rankings = 1998: A=20 Statistical View of the 50 United States, Morgan = Quinto=20 Press.

People of=20 Color Earn
Less in 'Right to Work'=20 = States

Median annual earnings of African American = and Latino=20 Workers in "right to work" states versus other states, = 1999

Source: U.S. Census = Bureau, Census=20 2000, Profile of Selected Economic = States.

Women Earn=20 Less in
'Right to Work'=20 = States

Median annual earnings of women in "right to = work"=20 states versus other states, = 1999

Source: U.S. Census = Bureau, Census=20 2000, Profile of Selected Economic=20 States.

A union security = clause does not=20 force workers to join a union but simply means they must pay = a fair=20 share for the economic benefits they receive because of = union=20 representation=97such as health insurance, pensions and = wages that are=20 on average better than those for nonunion workers. =

A=20 =93right to work=94=20 law would allow nonmember workers to get all the benefits of = union=20 membership and pay nothing, while forcing unions and their = members=20 to foot the bill for those not willing to pay their share. = The=20 result is weaker unions with inadequate resources to = represent=20 members.

In the 28 = non-=93right to work=94states,=20 federal law protects those workers who do not want to join = the=20 union. Workers in those states are required to pay only a = fair share=20 to cover the costs of their union representation, = but not the cost=20 of a union's political, legislative, social or charitable=20 activities.

It's=20 really a 'right to work for less'

It's no coincidence = that some=20 employer groups, Big Business and ultraconservative = lawmakers back=20 =93right to work=94laws because such laws weaken=20 unions and in turn depress wages. Studies show that workers = in=20 =93right to Work=94 states earn significantly less, while workers = in=20 non-=93right to work=94 = states earn significantly more. A primary = reason is=20 that workers with a union contract earn higher = pay=97weakening unions=20 lowers average pay. Workers of color and women workers who = are union=20 members make significantly higher wages.

The average worker = in a=20 =93right to work=94 = state earns about $5,333 less a year than = workers in=20 other states. (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics,=20 2001)
Hispanic union = members earn 45=20 percent ($180) more a week than nonunion Hispanic workers. = (source:=20 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Jan. 2002 )
African Americans = earn 30=20 percent ($140) more a week if they are union members. = (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Jan.=20 2002)
Union women earn = 30 percent=20 more ($149) a week than nonunion women. (source: Bureau = of Labor=20 Statistics, Jan. 2002)

It's not = just about=20 unions, but communities too

=93Right = to=20 work=94 laws reach far beyond = wages.=20 Quality-of-life issues such as health care, education, = worker safety=20 and poverty suffer greatly in =93right to=20 work=94 states.

In =93right to work=94 states 21=20 percent more people are without health insurance compared = with=20 those in free-bargaining states.=20 (source: = State Rankings=20 2000, A Statistical View of the 50 United States,=20 Morgan Quinto Press) =
=93Right to = work=94 states spend $1,699 less per elementary and = secondary=20 pupil than other states. = (source: Education Vital Signs, 2000=962001 = school=20 year)
The infant = mortality rate in=20 =93right to work=94 = states is 17 percent higher than in other = states, and=20 the poverty rate is 12.5 percent compared with 10.2 = percent in=20 other states. (source: = State Rankings 2000, A Statistical View = of the 50=20 United States, Morgan = Quinto Press;=20 U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March=20 2002)
The rate of = workplace death is=20 51 percent higher in =93right = to work=94=20 states.=20 (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2001; AFL-CIO, = =93Death on the=20 Job,=94 April 2002)=20