Right To Work: MNA Member Alert – Please Share!

Today Senator Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville), the author of the so-called “Right to Work” bill, took the unusual step of moving his bill from the Jobs Committee (where it had stalled and possibly didn’t have enough votes to pass) to the Judiciary Committee. As you know, “Right to Work” is a deceptive bill aimed at weakening unions and taking away workers’ voices in their worksites. It is unsafe, unnecessary and unfair:

• Unsafe: This amendment puts public safety at risk by making it harder for nurses, firefighters, police officers to negotiate and advocate for things like better nurse staffing and shorter response times.
• Unnecessary: This amendment is risky in these economic times. Our state has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and our manufacturing sector is the strongest sector of our economy. Forbes rated Minnesota as having the third best quality of life in the nation. Why would we risk lower wages, poorer benefits and possibly layoffs now, just as the economy recovering?
• Unfair: This amendment tilts the balance even more toward corporations at a time when CEO pay has grown 364 times higher than what the average worker makes. Minnesota workers make our employers profitable and we have to stop this unfair and irresponsible corporate power grab that benefits only the 1%.
• Unfair: This amendment allows cheaters to game the system at the expense of employees who work hard and play by the rules. It’s wrong that only some union members would pay dues when all workers would by law receive the benefits and representation of the union.