Michigan Becomes A Right To Work State

Studies have shown that the change in employment rates in right to work states and non right to work states is historically negligible, that middle class wages are significantly reduced in right to work states, that 7 of the top 10 states with the highest unemployment rates are in right to work states.

A study by the Economic Policy Institute found:
The most rigorous scientific analysis shows the exact opposite is true:

Right-to-work laws have no impact in boosting economic growth: research shows that there is no relationship between right-to-work laws and state unemployment rates, state per capita income, or state job growth.
Right-to-work laws have no significant impact on attracting employers to a particular state; surveys of employers show that “right to work” is a minor or non-existent factor in location decisions, and that higher-wage, hi-tech firms in particular generally prefer free-bargaining states.
Right-to-work laws lower wages—for both union and nonunion workers alike—by an average of $1,500 per year, after accounting for the cost of living in each state.
Right-to-work laws also decrease the likelihood that employees get either health insurance or pensions through their jobs—again, for both union and nonunion workers.
By cutting wages, right-to-work laws threaten to undermine job growth by reducing the discretionary income people have to spend in the local retail, real estate, construction, and service industries. Every $1 million in wage cuts translates into an additional six jobs lost in the economy. With 85 percent of Michigan’s economy concentrated in health care, retail, education, and other non-manufacturing industries, widespread wage and benefit cuts could translate into significant negative spillover effects for the state’s economy.

http://www.epi.org/publication/right-to ... n-economy/

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.

Board of Directors

http://www.epi.org/about/board/

.5% of workers is significant. Obama still hasn't improved unemployment numbers by .5% even after spending record amounts on stimulus. I think people would prefer lower paying jobs over no jobs.

The unions have done it to themselves. Most of them are as corrupt as the corporations from which they pretend to "protect" their members. I speak from experience.

Yup when I was in the union our BA's were taking $$$ form the companies and then shooting us in the foot.

The .5 percent (that would be .005) is not considered significant in the context of whether right to work vs. non right to work is an issue in employment rates. That small of an amount could be due to a host of factors, not related to unions.

Totally agree. Tough to compare one state to another, especially when most of the right to work states are in the South where they are less high paying manufacturing jobs. Compared to the north which has very high unemployment loss as those manufacturers who pay high wages lose market share to Korean companies that offer even lower wages than the southern states.

You, of course, have some valid source(s) for that regurgitation of drivel?....Other than "Some people say...." ?

Bottom line is why should anybody be forced to join a union or to pay dues to a union to hold a job? If the unions are doing such a bang up job of supporting the workers, wouldn't all workers be clamoring to join and participate?

Edit to add: Why should union dues be used to support political causes or candidates that individual members would not condone supporting?

Bottom line is that if someone is working in a job where wages, insurance, vacations, retirement plans, etc., have been negotiated, and they benefit from those negotiations, then they should pay something toward the costs of those negotiations...The same way that someone living in a community is expected to pay for police/fire protections, roads, schools...etc....

"..wouldn't all workers be clamoring to join and participate?"....

Not necessarily...Because there are cheap bastards like those on the right that expect to get it for free, and don't feel like they should have to pay anything for it.