Will "right to work" reawaken a sleeping giant?

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_9780962

By Bob Ewegen
Article Last Updated: 07/05/2008 07:25:03 AM MDT

George Santayana's maxim, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it," may be the epitaph for the Colorado Republican Party's dream of recapturing control of at least one chamber of the Colorado legislature in this fall's election.

Democrats control the House 40-25 and the Senate 20-15. Simple arithmetic means the GOP could regain control of the Senate by seizing just three seats — thus gaining a veto over initiatives by Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and his allies in the House.

But Republican hopes for picking up those three seats may run afoul of three little words that have led the GOP to ruin before: "right to work."

Thanks to $200,000 from 28-year-old trust fund baby Jonathan Coors that hired professional petition circulators for a supposed "citizen" initiative, that misnamed union-busting measure may well be on the ballot in November.

Despite the label, "right to work" laws don't guarantee anybody a job — unless you're a lawyer. Unions have filed a lawsuit alleging widespread fraud by the petition gatherers hired by the anti-union forces. The challenge could knock the initiative off the ballot, though sponsors have asked for the right to seek extra signatures to "cure" those defects.

It's not often you'll find Republicans cheering on a union lawsuit, but among those elephants who haven't forgotten 1958, that is precisely the case this year.

FULL story at link.

[dysfunctional press]

1. so if it's a "right to work" state, they must not have any need for unemployment insurance.

just show up and explain to the company that you have a "right to work"...

ooops- i guess that doesn't really guarantee a "right to get paid" though, does it?

[jody]

2. Doesn't "right to work" mean "right to be fired without cause"? n/t

[BlueJazz]

4. Yep...Here in Repug Florida, an employer can fire you if he gets up in a bad mood.

I've had Women-friends get fired for "Not Cooperating" with the boss. (Spreading her legs)

That's the way Republicans think down here...

[Juche]

3. Unions say they will contribute $360 million this cycle

Not to mention all the volunteer work and donations they will give. That is great. If we get EFCA and a real secretary of Labor (rather than Mitch McConnell's wife) then hopefully in the future unions can be an even bigger role in building a long term progressive majority.