Sometimes it is difficult to know the predominant mindset of this legislative district. Issues can be tough to assess. The one major topic of this session is the Right to Work (RTW) bill, House Bill (HB) 1001 which just passed out of the House this week with a vote of 54-44. I think it is very important to take a closer look at this legislation. To start, RTW is not an issue that has been taken lightly by me or my colleagues at the Statehouse. This summer, more than 20 hours of testimony were heard on the bill by a bipartisan study committee made up of both House and Senate members. Also, there was an additional 5 ½ hours of testimony heard by both the House and Senate committees the bill was assigned to this session, and finally nearly eight hours of debate on the House floor before a final vote was taken. RTW is a straightforward bill, in fact it is only a couple of pages long. It simply keeps membership in a union from being a condition of employment. Workers should have the freedom to choose whether or not to financially support a union. RTW is necessary because economic development experts estimate that up to half of all companies that are looking to expand don’t even consider Indiana because we are not a RTW state. Of the businesses that do look at Indiana, 70 percent choose to locate here. RTW would be one more way to attract more businesses and bring more jobs to Hoosier workers. In the 22 states that have enacted RTW laws, average wages have increased when adjusted for cost of living. When these factors are taken into account, workers in RTW states have more purchasing power than in states without a RTW law. Furthermore, RTW has no effect on pensions or healthcare. The provisions agreed to in the current contracts will stand. RTW also has no bearing on safety laws because the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) still protects workers, and while many states lack a workplace safety agency, Indiana OSHA provides extra protections. I believe RTW will make unions more responsive to their members. It is incumbent on the unions to make their case because union membership should be driven by incentives and not a government mandate. For example, even though teachers’ unions were granted RTW in 1995, the Indiana State Teachers Association continues to have strong statewide representation because of what it offers to its members. I hope you all can see that while the concepts can seem complex, they are fairly simple once you break it down. This issue has been a highly emotional issue on the House floor, and unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation out there. When problem solving, a bipartisan approach will always be the best choice for the majority of Hoosiers. As a member of leadership in the House Republican caucus it is my duty to hear both sides of all important issues and help keep the lines of communication open. My observation is that the RTW bill will be helpful to job creation in Indiana and that the majority of Hoosiers agree with the concept of RTW. I do understand the benefits that unions have earned for workers over the years, but workers deserve to have the freedom to choose where their hard earned money will go, and RTW will allow them that freedom. Our state needs more employment opportunities so Hoosiers can get back to work. In this district we are struggling with 11 percent unemployment despite all the steps we’ve taken to strengthen our economy. I am determined to address this issue today and create incentives for future generations to stay in Indiana. RTW makes sense for Indiana and I’m looking forward to seeing this piece of legislation now progress through the Senate. More later, Bill Friend -30- |
