Right to Work Is Wrong for Your Family—Whether You Are Union or Not. Here’s Why

I spent 36 years working at the Bridgestone Tire plant in Oklahoma City. The work was hard but rewarding. It afforded me the opportunity to provide for my family, always ensure there was enough food at the table and that my kids were afforded every modest opportunity to grow up in a household that was stable, secure and free from worry. That all changed suddenly in 2006, five years after Oklahoma passed a so-called "right to work" law that was billed by politicians as a job creator. For the 1,400 men and women who worked at the plant, right to work didn’t work as advertised. Not only did the plant close, but the effects of the closing and the chilling effect that right to work has on a state’s economy were felt by everyone.

Reminds of the joke -

One year the Teamsters were having conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bill had been Teamster for a number of years and finally found himself a decent position on the staff at his Local shop. One of the perks meant Bill could attend the conference in Vegas.

The first night Bill got into town, he played slot machines and decided he’d find himself a pay by the hour girlfriend. Just any old brothel wouldn’t do for Bill, he wanted one where the girls were organized and kept most of the money – he was looking for the union label so to speak.

Bill walks into the first brothel he came upon and asked the Madame what the hourly rate was. The Madame motioned toward a striking blonde of about 23, and noted the price for a girl like her was $100 an hour.

Bill inquired whether the brothel was union, how much money the house kept, and how much money the girls kept. The Madame informed him the brothel wasn’t unionized; the house kept $85, and $15 went to the girl. Bill responded with a, “No thank you,” and went to the next brothel. Brothel after brothel Bill heard the same story – non-union, $85 to the house, and $15 to the girl.

Just when he was about to give up, Bill walked into a brothel, and saw about a dozen gorgeous women lounging around naked – the Madame informed him the house was unionized! Even better, only $15 went to the house, and $85 went to the girl!

Bill could hardly believe his fortune and gladly slapped a Benjamin Franklin on the counter. The Madame turned and hollered, “Mildred, you’re up!” Into the room walked a woman grayed haired and about 60.

Bill stammered, “But I want one of these younger girls.”

“I’m sure you would,” replied the Madame, “But Mildred has 20 years seniority!”

I grew up in a family that was true blue union from my grandfather on down to me

To say something against unionism was unthinkable.

Then where I worked for many years changed all of that. The union leadership was always led by thugs and hoodlums. They cheated, manipulated and extorted for their own purposes but the 'rank and file' never kicked them out...go figure.

This is what you wrote at #17:

“ALL RTW does is bar unions from requiring employees to pay union dues as a condition of employment.

That’s it, unions can’t force you to pay dues.”

I added that RTW laws also forbid a company from requiring you to *join* a union, whether dues-paying or not. Both restrictions are in the Taft-Hartley enabling legislation.

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