You now have the right-to-work-FOR-LESS in Indiana
By louisehartmann
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels took his state backwards on Wednesday – signing legislation to make Indiana the 23rd “right-to-work” state in the nation. It’s the first state in ten years to go right-to-work and also the first state in the nation’s manufacturing belt to adopt a right-to-work law, which starves labor unions of much-needed funding.
So what can workers in Indiana expect now? First off – lower wages. It’s really right-to-work FOR LESS – as the average worker makes more than $5,000 less in wages a year in right-to-work-for-less states versus free-bargaining states. They can also expect less healthcare – as 21% fewer workers on average receive employee-sponsored healthcare in right-to-work-for-less states.
And finally – workers can expect more workplace injuries. Without unions to ensure safe working conditions – right-to-work-FOR-LESS states experience 51% more workplace injuries and deaths. So the only winners here are transnational CEOs who don’t give a damn about their workers – and don’t give a damn about democracy. That’s what unions are – democracy in the workplace – and they are just as essential to creating a stable middle class as democracy in our government. So Republican Governor Mitch Daniels didn’t just declare war on unions in Indiana – he also declared war on the middle class.
Comments
#2
Why, we have minds here in this comment part, who deceive themselves, it would be 'progressive' to vote for Ron Paul, who TRULY stands for "you're on your own." Is anybody so naive to hope, Paul would NOT work for right to work for less? Ridiculous!
People vote predators in, why then wonder they behave like predators? Wisconsin WAS lost basically by flip-flop voters. Ha, you heard people flip-flop already in 2009: whatever Obama suggested, people where complaining. Healthcare bills.... nothing was right. The same voter flip-flop happened in Massachusetts.
Now many of Obama's ex-voters complain, Obama was weak, because he can't do anything against GOP gridlock. Why blame the GOP? NO, they blame the president! No mortal being could do anything against that gridlock -- you voted that in, people -- against the president!
Average Americans aren't like me. I'm pretty much a socialist -- the average American is more like a blue-dog. Obama fits well, if he should be a blue-dog indeed. But maybe he's NOT, and just has to adjust to the average American. Because the average American isn't a socialist; Americans are darn conservative -- always tended to be.
If Republicans do cruel things in numerous states, this might help Obama in November. Finally the majority might get, it's POISON to vote for GOP. We can't have Massachusetts/ Wisconsin-fip-flopping nationwide: Voting Walker in against Obama, then starting recall one year later. Screaming farce! America needs consistency, Obama needs time to develop something -- this time hopefully without gridlock.....
#3
We don't need any revolution/ respective another civil war. We need voters who act like adults.
As long as this doesn't happen, we have something to change about ourselves. In other countries presidents, or chancellors, have time to work something out. Because voters know, you can't change your mind about politics like your socks and panties. Consistency is very essential.
#4
Let's pretend Mitch Daniels is unemployed and looking for a job. His only job option is in the coal mining industry. He has two choices, he can work for a well run union company, or a non-union one. Given what we now know about him I think it's safe to bet he will choose to go down into the mines working for non-union companies with CEO's like Don Blankenship, assuming of course that Daniels is a man of integrity!
The grim reaping of worker rights by stiffs like Daniels has been made easy and in my opinion will continue due to the desperation of joblessness caused by the Bush regime's "working class depression."
#5
At what point do we cross the line of human decency and descend down the dirty road to cruelty? This race to the bottom reminds me of a happening in South Korea sometime back in the 1970’s where one of our Congresspersons visited a manufacturing plant in that country. During his tour of the plant along with the Plant Manager, the Congressman looked at the workers on the floor assembling parts, shivering, and turned to the Plant Manger saying: “my God it’s cold in here! When do you turn on the heat?” The Plant Manger replied, “When the oil in the machinery starts to coagulate.” Obviously, the competing plant manufacturing the same parts would be at a disadvantage where they heated the plant for the benefits of the workers. Because of these externalized costs, there must be regulations where all business operates according to rules set by government and enforced by government.
I find it difficult to understand the reasons for the pursuit by some people for the reduction in regulations. Everyone benefits from a level playing field, and there is enough room for even the greedy on this field of play. Of course, the greedy would have to work, and let them work within the confines of nature: there are only 24 hours in a day and not to be confused with the cold temperature of coagulated oil.
The genesis of this problem of de-regulation are the channeling of wealth upwards to the hands of few through tax breaks, and the theory of Reaganomics, i.e., give wealth to the upper few and the effects will trickle down to the rest of us through increased jobs. We need to reverse this movement and return to sanity.
Before I could graduate from Business College, I was required to take a course in Ethics and Morality. There are happenings in business and government that just can’t be legislated; everything that could possibly happen in the functions of life would be impossible to legislate. Over the thousands of years of society, I think that most of us could agree on some conditions for human existence. The Ten Commandments would be a good example of Ethics and Morality and a part of the harmony of human existence, and does exist within the scope of most religions. I’m reminded of the Bible and Matthew 25:40 ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
#6
Thom, since when is the workplace a democracy? A business exists to make money for the owners, period, end of discussion. Yes workers should not be subject to unheathy and unsafe conditions. But workers are free to leave and find employemt elsewhere. And business that do not pay the going rate for their workers won't be able to hire and keep decent help.
#7
Quote mauiman58:since when is the workplace a democracy?
You don't just trust in a lawful nation -- you wanna protect and control. Because abuse is really everywhere. Why would anybody be such a sucker and just trust? "Homo homini lupus est" -- humans are predators and you wanna be careful!
That's why we need checks and balances in a lawful nation. In the workplace as well.
#8
If I get it right, the last state elections in Indiana had been in 2008, so there should be a chance to vote Mitch Daniels out. ;)
#9
Just becasue a workplace is non Union, that does not mean that OSHA rules do not apply there. If an employer is not obeying the law, bust them, union or non union!
But as far as setting wages, that is negotiated between the employee and employer. The more the employee asks for, the less likely he/she is to get it. And the less an employer pays, the less likely they are to be able to hire and retain good people. Those are the checks and balances on wages and benefits in capitalism, and that is the way it should be.
#10
Yes, it's funny that it doesn't work.
#11
It's been working since 1776, show me another system that has lasted this long.
BTW, I do tip my hat to what the Unions did in the early 1900's. Certainly what they did in those days needed to be done and we are all better off for it now.
#12
Well, you know the present problem is too low pay. I don't wanna be stuck in the 1700s. Thanks God it's NOT the same system today, America had a lot of change since 1776. Life/nature is development!
We progressives look for new ideas. We're not afraid of growth. We're not stuck. That's why we're so interested in Europe, where it works better....
#13
I can't agree that what the Euopeans are doing is better than what we are doing over here. Look at Greece, Italy, Ireland, and Spain to name a few economies are in real trouble becasue they have fully embracd what the left is preaching in this country. The 2010 election should have sent the message that we Americans are not interested European style socialism.
If you are in a low paying job, get a new one. If you need new skills to get that better job, go get them. If you don't like either option, start your own business. These are all options here, these options are much more difficult in Europe, believe me.
#14
This policy of right-to work-for less clearly supports the 1% over the 99% as Thom explained. I believe we need to reinforce this frame as consistently as the Tea Party unites their support with their relentless messaging through corporate media. Frame EVERYTHING as 99% vs. 1%. If both benefit, like an increase in skills from the work force, we should not hesitate to demand its implementation just as we should if it only benefits the 99%. Analyze everything in terms of 99% and make your case on ANY issue. Just a suggestion.
#15
@mauiman58: Central and North Europe has not our extend of social distress -- not our homeless figures. Unions and social security are hardly questioned there.
No, not anybody is able to start a business. There are people who don't have this power, who simply can't sell themselves, because they don't have that self-confidence. Many people are different from you and many have health issues. Those who aren't quite intelligent need our protection too.
Your ideas about the world are like communism: painting an ideal world without any defects. That is very-very kitschy and flat-out arrogant. I know there are many people who desperately try to find a job. You talk like the spoiled brat of a millionaire who never saw the world outside his gilded life.
#16
Sorry the existance of Unions will not help your anyone who is looking for a job, they tend to force up wages which reduces the number of jobs available at that wage. That is Economics 101.
Sorry the more skilled will make more money, that's reality. And just for the record, there are a whole lot of people making a whole bunch more money than I am.
Also, you can't set up utopia where everyone gets the same. That's called communism.
#17
Employment is a business arrangement, nothing more, nothing less. In a business deal, both sides have to win. The employee has to somehow generate enough income to support what he/she gets paid or they will be out the door. And the employer has make the situation good enough to keep the employee from leaving for greener pastures.
This is not class warfare, just a business arrangement. The more you get paid, the more you have to produce to keep that job. Nothing is free.
#18
Communism is dictatorship, without any checks&balances. Communist regimes fight unions. They very much argue like Reagan did, "Not necessary, we do that for you." I am very much for checks&balances. Of course employers have the right to organize as well!
I don't wanna suppress employers -- but right now ordinary people are suffering too much.
#19
Parents with THREE jobs at the same time, their children develop severe psychological issues. THAT'S reality in many cases. Government has to watch that and protect unions. It has always been the job of unions to fight conditions like that.
No, I avocate the social democratic way. The GOP will get beaten up anyway in November, trust me..... LOL
Free market is NOT working without being watched. Otherwise the problem MONOPOLY wouldn't exist at all. But in fact it is a threat to the free market. That means: government has to protect employees AND the free market. After all government even protects the honest employers! Government really SHOULD protect ventures against people like Mitt Romney......
#20
Right now I would be willing to bet a whole bunch of money that In Washington, both the House and Senate will be Republican in January 2013. The White house is probably 50/50 right now. We'll see what happens after the Republicans set their candidate and start going after Obama instead of each other.
If you have to have three jobs to support yourself, you are probably living beyond your means. Either that or you have run up too much debt. I know there will be exceptions to that, but I have to believe that is the case in most circumstances. You can't expect the goverment to bail you out of your own stupidity and irresponsibilities. You can't expect those who take care of themselves to bail out those who don't.
#21
What, with those ridiculous GOP nuts you're gonna win Congress? I laugh myself to death!
Right now it's the clumsy neo-aristocratic vulture against the philolunar polygamist. If you consider those lunatics electable people, you must really live under a rock, or maybe you're twelve years old and can't know better....
You just don't care about common people. Not anybody is to blame because they're unlucky. I find your cruel blah-blah just gross. In my ears this sounds just devilish. You know what? Creep back under your rock. I hate to repeatedly stare into the abyss of a cruel grimace.
#22
Um, consider it war. It's either you guys or us who's gonna go under. So what? I'm not a sissy! Just fight for what I believe in.
But wasting my fighting capacity all on you?
NO!
#23
So how do you explain the fact that so many GOP nuts got elected in 2010? The Dems had total control, but the voters obviously saw the light of day and tossed a bunch of Dems out into the cold. The only reason the Dems held the Senate is because only 33% of the seats were up for election. This cycle of the 33 seats up, only 10 or 11 are Republicans.
You can rail at me al you want, but obviously there are a whole bunch of voters out there that feel the same way I do. And unless the Dems can convince us that big goverment is better goverment, they will be even more Dems out of congress come 2013.
Oh and BTW, I do have compassion for the common man, I just do not want elected official doing charity work with tax dollars. When a private charity helps people their motives are pure. All they want to do is help the people involved and they expect nothing in return. When an elected official "helps" the less fortunate, they do not care about that person at all, all they are doing is buying their vote. I know that is rather harsh, but sorry that is true. At the end of the day, the only thing elected officials care about is getting re elected. And that's how Democrats get reelected, they buy votes with tax dolars. Yes the Republicans are also just trying to get reelected, but they do it in different ways.
#24
"Compassion?" That's all I asked you for!
We have an army of intelectually underprivileged, who are just stupid, because they got underprivileged parents.
Your blaming them is as cold as a common gangster's mind. The only difference is: You don't break the law. But you right-wingers aren't any kinder.
Quote mauiman58:You can't expect the goverment to bail you out of your own stupidity and irresponsibilities. You can't expect those who take care of themselves to bail out those who don't.
Just to remind you of the brutality of your argumentation.
Again: We have an army of red-necks, who are just underprivileged, because they've been born red-necks. I feel like doing something about it, caring for them. If you hate this idea, your mind is just GROSS to my mind. Sorry, I can't take that. On the long run it makes me upset...... I truly had to take vacation from you, for I couldn't take you any longer!
#25
Again, I do care for those in need but I STRONGLY object to elected officials using tax dollars for this to the extent that is going on right now. All the policians are doing is buying votes with tax dollars, you'll never convince me that they actually care about the people they are "helping", they are just throwing money at them to buy their votes. And make sure they stay dependant on the goverment so they will continue to get their vote. If you want to see where that process goes when it is unchecked, look at what is going on in Greece right now. The left wing politicians over there have gotten so many people dependant on goverment handouts that they are rioting in the streets when even the left wingers finally had to say that the party is over, we have run out of money.
The thing I think you are missing is the concept of competition. We are in a global economy, and every one is competing for money. The best and the brightest and the best negotiators get the most money. I doubt if you like that fact, but that is reality. So you can get mad at me for pointing that out (cutting off the head of the messanger usually doesn't do a whole lot of good) or you can deal with the unpleasant realities of the situation. Your choice.
#26
Quote mauiman58:We are in a global economy, and every one is competing for money. The best and the brightest and the best negotiators get the most money.This is exactly the reason why a welfare state has to act. We don't wanna live in a society of hyenas. We are going to change the rules in this society, there is no way back in history. You have to mind red traffic lights or what? You have to mind the right of the weaker in society as well -- or possibly prison. Forget your pretator society. We're done with that and you're just one of those dinosaurs who struggle with the change.
#27
Funny a country like Germany is pretty successful these days. A country with a pretty generous welfare system! The Greeks are a rotten example: still struggling society a after fascist regime, rich don't really pay taxes ect. ... You don't make sense!
Ron Paul's stingy ideas simply don't pay. Libertarian ideas are actually social Darwinism: The right of the stronger and more successful over the weak. Because of a few lazy bones you wanna cut out all welfare for those who cannot help themselves.
Libertarianism on the battlefield would be: "You made the wrong choice to duck into the wrong ditch, now you're under machine-gun fire and I won't help ya. Blame yourself! I just get out of here, you're on your own.........." Or just not to wait for those who can't run so fast....
Asocial!
#28
If your picture is current, you are under 30. If that is true, keep your post #27 and read it again on your 50th birthday. You will be TOTALLY embarresed at how unrealistic you are. You are suggesting that you can change human nature, That simply is not going to happen.
#29
Quote mauiman58:you are under 30
Thanks for the huge complement!
Humanity always changed. We don't burn witches anymore. Torture is banned. Women vote. Homophobia is about to vanish.
Well, actually my topic is "change Americans". We're quite a bit behind. ;o)
There's no such thing as "American exceptionalism" -- that sacred cow gotta be butchered. It's nothing but small-minded American conservatism that is about fearing change.
Stop whining sissies, mama Clarissa and her liberal friends are working for the better......
#30
OK all you liberal Democrats, get a load of this. The state of Illinois is just about bankrupt because of overspending of the Democrats that have been in total control for the last 10 years. It is so bad that even the DEMOCRAT govenor of the state has finally stated that the party is over. This is what happens if the liberals are allowed to run unchecked. Is this what we want?
Here is the article in today's Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-quinns-bad-news-budget-our-rendezvous-with-reality-has-arrived-20120222,0,4043044.story
#31
Funny the recall happens in Wisconsin and not in Chicago. Although people are a little disappointed in Chicago, for the major's policy is pretty libertarian....
#32
If Wisconsin replaces Scott Walker with a Democrat, they will be in the same boat as Illinois is in a hurry, mark my words. And if both Nancy Pelosi and Barak Obama had just a few more years in control of the US, the entire country would be bankrupt, just like Illinois is. Look at all the damage that they did in just two years! The voters in the US are obviously smarter than the voters in Illinois.
The Democrats (or liberals) just do not have the guts to do the right thing finacially, all they do is buy votes with tax dollars that do not exist and bankrupt the goverment they are in control of. The state of Illinois, and the countries of Greece and Italy are perfect examples of how that works.
#33
The GOP is totally bought be the Koch brothers and now entirely destroyed. All that's left is pure insanity. Republicans are lunatic libertarians, Christian ayatollahs, fascists talking about attacking Iran....
Here, read this, I love it!
Quote leighmf: The Grand Old Party is in shambles and pretty soon it will be as embarassing to be a Republican as it is to be on Unemployment. People are going to get ticked off and a few guys are going to have to punch each other out, right in front of us.To find here
If you wanna discuss how to take back the GOP, restitute, heal and repair what the Koch brothers destroyed, I'm all for it, mauiman. But frankly, your current argumentation is good for nothing but VOP............. very old people. Old and gaga.
#34
Quote Gershwin in 1930:Old man trouble, I don't mind him--Well, I GOT RHYTHM came out 1930, but was written by the Gershwin brothers a little earlier.You won't find him, at my door.
I Got Rhythm, I got music--
I got my.........
The message is timeless: Fussy old people, trying to tell younger people how they should live are NOT appreciated. Not invited, not around our door. Old-fashioned old people who hate to change, naturally become isolated and lonesome. Old people who are open and tolerant get along better than with that pitiful stuff there:
Quote mauiman58:If your picture is current, you are under 30. If that is true, keep your post #27 and read it again on your 50th birthday. You will be TOTALLY embarresed at how unrealistic you are. You are suggesting that you can change human nature, That simply is not going to happen.
Got your message: "We old people know better, you young people change thinking to that of old people." Hahahahahaha!
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Of course it will happen to other states. I'm from Indiana, and we have been subjected to pro Right to Work TV ads for 6 weeks, paid for by an "Indiana Opportunity Fund", and the repuglicans won't reveal who is behind all this money for these ads. I'm sure it's out of state pac money from some corporate ceo buddies of Indiana's Repug. Governor Daniels. The A.L.E.C. and National Right to Work have very deep pockets. Hard for working people to compete with that. We have to get rid of this "Citizen$ United" and impeach the supreme court 5 who forced this on us.