Dear Editor,
From “Local representatives weigh in on new legislative session” which was posted 1/6/17:
“Right-to-Work legislation is something I’ve worked on from the beginning,” Beard said. “I think it’s going to be fantastic for us economically but also as far as fundamentals go, it’s never a good idea to force someone to pay union dues or join a union if they don’t want to.”
It is a myth that Missouri workers are forced to pay union dues or join a union. The Taft-Hartley Act, passed in 1947 did away with the closed shop. “As far as fundamentals go,” unions are formed and decertified though democratic elections. Individual workers already have the right to join or not to join a union at their workplace. Additionally, the law specifically states that nonmembers cannot be required to pay for the union’s political activities.
Enacting Right to Work legislation will be economically “fantastic” for only a few people- namely, out of state millionaires like David Humphreys and the politicians he bought off with $25,000+ campaign contributions in return for pushing his anti-worker agenda.
The actual motive behind Right to Work laws is to replace good paying jobs with low wage work. States who passed this legislation saw average household income for both union and nonunion families decrease by $1500 annually. Right to Work also hurts retirees and local economies. Workers in Right to Work states are in greater danger of workplace injuries and have a 43.8 percent higher risk of dying on the job than workers in states without these laws. This legislation is contrary to the American Dream. Right to Work is wrong for Missouri.
Ashley Beard-Fosnow
Greenwood
