Right-to-work laws hurt business climate

[Omaha Steve]

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/OPINION01/805300310

Friday, May 30, 2008
Labor Voices
Right-to-work laws hurt business climate
Douglas C. Buckler

Well-funded special interest groups continue to use Michigan's sluggish economy and the serious taxation, education, health care and business growth issues we face as a pretext for assaults on working families and labor unions.

Undeniably, having Michigan become a "right-to-work" state would be bad for workers, helping dismantle freely negotiated wage standards and benefits, as well as worker protections, in many industries. In right-to-work states, nonunion members can opt out of paying union dues, even though they receive all the guarantees and protections of the existing union contract under which they work.

The net effect is to weaken the value of labor, not just in unionized segments but also across the broader range of occupations and professions that make up a modern economy.

Worse, "right-to-work" status would hurt Michigan businesses and communities in a number of ways. Lower wage scales, less worker contribution to advanced training programs, less stringent job site safety and fewer families with secure health care translate into compromised state and local tax bases and greater strains on public services and education. Overall, we create an environment less favorable to business success.

The reality is that "right-to-work" is not just a union issue. Our modern Michigan economy is in many ways "indivisible." For example, the strength and quality of our outstanding Michigan health care sector relies on the earned health care benefits of workers across many employment sectors, union or nonunion, skilled trade or service worker, blue collar or white.

Similarly, pension funds (whether defined benefit programs negotiated by labor unions in both the public and private sectors, 401(k) and similar plans provided by private employers or individual retirement accounts) are invested directly in our community, while their management supports the financial services sector of our Michigan economy.

FULL story at link.

[midnight]

1. What types of organizations are :

Well-funded special interest groups continue to use Michigan's sluggish economy and the serious taxation, education, health care and business growth issues we face as a pretext for assaults on working families and labor unions.
Here in Milwaukee a Rep. County executive,Scott Walker, has started a campaign against those who earn overtime. First the Nurses, and then the Bus drivers? He prints their overtime in the News Paper with their name and wage, and the next step is to make them sign a waiver to their over time for six months.

[LiberalFighter]

2. He uses taxpayer money to do that?

How much does the scumbag make? Does he a vehicle provided by the county?

Is it even legal?

When is he up for re-election?

Was he one of those that they were trying to run as Governor?

[midnight]

3. He just finished being re-elected this last April.....And he might

have intentions for running for Gov., but I don't really follow his ideas. I will have to look into the vehicle issue. That would be interesting. He cut funding for a bus line that the college students from a poor area use to get to the university.