Beyond the Lie of Right to Work

RTW is a power battle between corporations and workers. The corporations have too much political power now, influencing pretty much every aspect of society EXCEPT for the unions. Unions are the last organized defense against Corporatism, otherwise known as Fascism...control of the nation by corporations. IF RTW passes, it could spread to other states and federal RTW legislation. In a capitalist system, unions are the brakes on runaway greed, and it's that greed that got us into the economic mess we're in. RTW is the elimination of competition to set up a grand monopoly of power over everyone. This goes way beyond a battle between Democrat and Republican.
On a national level, it’s getting increasingly difficult to tell the difference between Democrat and Republican. What has President Obama done for working people? Not a whole lot. He did make needed appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and managed to change a few minor points in NLRB regulations, but that’s it. Obama has received more Wall Street campaign donations than the Republican candidates have. He happily gives the big banks anything they want. And let’s not forget Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act that sets the stage for military occupation of the United States. He also has a long, dark track record of caving into corporate desires such as handing the insurance industry 40 million new paying customers from his famous “Healthcare” act. The bad Obama has done far outweighs the good.
Neither can national Republicans be trusted to do the right thing for anyone but the corporations. They have fought tooth and nail to stop the rich from paying their fair share of taxes. They universally want an end to anything that helps the non-rich such as Social Security, Medicare, and other programs in the social safety net. They care nothing except to make themselves and their corporate handlers more money. That includes the complete subjugation of the work force.
Here in Indiana, our Democrats have stood in solidarity with the workforce. Since too many Hoosiers were fooled by the lies of the Tea Party, the Republicans have taken over to force the will of the National Republican Party in returning this country to the mid 1800’s in philosophy and public policy. At least the Indiana Democrats know to think independently from the national Party. Labor stands with whoever stands with us. The birth of the “Lunchpail” Republicans in Indiana, those who are more in tune with the original purposes of the Republican Party, is promising. They understand that business needs unions as much as unions need business.
And, what is wrong with two mutually dependent groups sitting down and striking a reasonable agreement to help each other? Business wouldn’t have profits without those who do the work or provide the service. And does it not make sense that workers who can have an enjoyable life from the fruits of their labor would not strive to keep that prosperous lifestyle? So the corporations don’t have more money than they know what to do with because they made an agreement to share the profits with those who make those profits possible. Where is it written that your boss has absolute control over your life and livelihood simply because you have an agreement to produce a good or service for them?
Under the so-called “Free market” concept, if a worker doesn’t like what an employer wants, they can work someplace else. But since also under that concept, American corporations are free to send any job overseas that they wish, that’s no longer an option. With the lack of regulations on business, we have companies routinely violating the rights of workers with complete impunity. We don’t have jobs because the corporatist rulers have eliminated the option of changing jobs, if you’re lucky enough to have one in the first place. Now they want to destroy the unions so that the work force is crippled from having any say in running their own lives.
The lie of Right to Work makes it nearly impossible for unions to maintain contracts. Union dues go to cover the costs of handling contractual disputes (grievances) such as providing representation, having lawyers retained, publishing contracts, administering benefits programs. There will be too many unthinking people who think they will get something for nothing under a union contract they do not have to pay for. Unions are non-profit corporations and do not have the nearly the money that business has. If we reduce the ability of the unions to enforce the contracts, it effectively destroys those contracts. Business can continue to do whatever damn well pleases. There is no one to oppose them.
Do we really want that in Indiana…or in any other state for that matter?