What's exactly "right to work" states/initiatives?

[redeye]

I hear a lot of talk about them but I've never figured out what that really means and why it is so adverse for unions.

[southernfried]

1. because you are not required to join the union to work

but you get the same rate. Without the union dues. Of course you DO get to catch heat from union people.

[redeye]

2. Aha...

...thanks for the info.

[mitchum]

3. And of course you get to share in the workers benefits....

that the unions fought for (while you were busy licking your master's shoes)

[NNN0LHI]

6. You seem to have forgotten that the union that the scab pays no dues to...

...is still required by law to represent the anti-union fool who pays no union dues when his ass is in a bind for breaking rules on the job

Don

[bluedog]

4. here in fl

I work at a plant like that..we have a union which I belong to and pay dues...
the people who do not join have the same benefit package and scale pay as I have......the only thing they do not have is the right to vote on the contracts....they do get a free ride...yet when a layoff came up last year they got their asses and joined up because according to the union rules..union people had to be called back before thee company could hire outside help....

also we have some union reps who are called in to defend these people when management and person have problems.....they do get the same treatment as paying members..

my union bends to company management.....My company is "Raytheon"
you know..bush lands at their airport when he comes to Fl.

[classics]

5. Its a sucessful union busting tactic.

Force employers to pay union rate to non-union employees. Employees leave the union, union has its back broken and employer cuts wages in half since there is no union left to argue.

[NNN0LHI]

7. Google Taft/Hartley Act of 1947 n/t

[bookman]

8. Thank God for my Union

I'm retired after 30 years. Every day I think how grateful I am for the work my union did for me, and is still doing.

[Jeebo]

9. They're a favorite tactic of union-busters . . .

Right-wingers use so-called "right-to-work" laws as one of their union-busting tactics. And as is usually the case with what Republicans propose, what they call it is actually the OPPOSITE of what it actually is. They tried to get a "right-to-work" law passed in my state some years back. Fortunately it didn't pass. The proposed law's opposition mounted a bumper sticker campaign, and during the campaign and for several years afterward there were lots of people sporting bumper stickers that said "I'm against the phony 'right-to-work' for LESS and LESS and LESS..." And that pretty much sums up the effect of these stupid union-busting laws. I was a union member myself at the time and was SO relieved when it didn't pass.

Ron

[southernfried]

10. got any examples of that ? I can't recall this happening in Virginia

and I've been here a while.