“Instead of being a movement of workers banded together for the protection and advancement of their interests in a free economy, the labor movement has now become a political movement with the objective of establishing a socialist labor government in control of the economic and social life of the nation.” – Free Choice for Workers
Driving around any industrial area, one might spot a bumper sticker claiming: “Unions: The folks who brought you the weekends”. But unions did no such thing, capitalism did. It was Henry Ford who created the automobile assembly line in 1913 and with it several labor improvements for his workers. He began by reducing the workweek from 6 days to 5 and creating the 8-hour-a-day, 40-hour workweek to help counter difficulties with employee turnover. All without the presence of a union. At its peak in 1953, 36 percent of private-sector workers belonged to a union. Today, it’s only 7 percent of the private sector and just 10 percent of the entire workforce. Perhaps the real story about unions (and their political ambitions) has finally made its way to the public square.
Seemingly, many eyes were opened when in 2012, electrical crews from states like Georgia and Florida raced up the coast to help with power outages in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. But no such relief would be provided when crews were met with union foes demanding membership fees before they would be allowed to help. This sent non-union workers from the south back home, leaving residents to wait for much-needed services.
More recently, in 2018, the Supreme Court overturned precedent by freeing non-union members from paying union fees. At the time, nearly half of the states allowed non-union worker's checks to be garnished, simply because a union existed. And workers seem to agree, based on a 27-state survey in 2016 by the Nevada Policy Research Institute, which revealed that nearly 30 percent of union workers would opt out if given the chance.
In George Leef’s 2005 book, “Free Choice for Workers”, Leef describes the history of union compulsion beginning primarily with FDR’s New Deal, and the legislative path unions took to grow their membership. Workers were forced to join unions and pay their corresponding dues every time a majority of employees voted for union representation. But, as Leef notes, majoritarianism is quintessentially un-American. Thus, as union membership grew, the grassroots “Right to Work” committee sprang up in an attempt to reverse the compulsory trend.
Big Labor, for all its intended benefits, has morphed into nothing more than a political movement and arm of the Democrat party, anxious to mimic the kind of economic and social controls enjoyed by European countries. For example, California Governor Gavin Newsom would receive a big boost of union money to help fuel his 2021 recall election, which included millions of dollars from unions representing teachers, service employees, and prison guards. With 99 percent of political union dollars going to support Democrats and democrat policies, it’s no wonder that many union employees are looking for a way out. And why wouldn’t they, considering 40 percent of union employees vote Republican? Democrats, however, aren’t too keen to lose their guaranteed income stream from obligatory membership that totals in the tens of millions every election cycle.
Fortunately, significant gains have already been made. By 2022, 27 states have right-to-work legislation allowing employees to opt out of union membership and determine their own terms of employment. While right-to-work laws are helpful, they are not enough. A full repeal of the Wagner Act is needed to abolish all federal laws supporting compulsory unionism. Federal contracts requiring union membership must also be reversed, so that the best bid, union or non-union, can be considered. Presently, the Hatch Act forbids any political involvement of union members but applies only to law enforcement. This exclusion must be extended to include all unions and their membership.
By growing government, unions hope to eliminate any competition from markets, which tend to drive down costs and create efficiencies, something neither unions nor governments themselves can accomplish. States with free markets and free labor attract more businesses, jobs, and higher wages, due to the only factor that really matters, increased production. As a recent Gallup poll revealed, the future for union compulsion is weakening, with roughly 8 out of 10 Americans believing that union membership should be voluntary. The right to work without coercive labor unions is the essence of freedom in America. And since one’s decision not to join a union has no impact on another who may opt-in, the path forward is evident.
Comentarios