Editor, Times-Union: Indiana Republicans have prioritized "Right to Work" legislation as a top agenda item for the 2012 session.
Funny, I cannot recall a single legislator that ran on this issue in the last election. This regressive legislation will result in lowering wages, benefits and safety standards ultimately for all workers. It's a race to the bottom.
Unions have fought hard for many of the workplace laws we now take for granted such as the 8-hour work day and elimination of child labor for example. Even if you currently are not represented by a union, negotiated contracts help improve the employment standards in other workplaces.
This legislation will weaken the rights for workers to bargain collectively and continue the trend of "gutting" the working middle class in the state. Union workers many times are our relatives, friends and neighbors. This is another Republican tactic to try and pit one worker against another under the guise of creating more jobs or saving money to balance a budget. Remember Governor Daniels calling the state teachers the "privileged elite"? Don't be misled by this deception.
This past year, the corporate income tax rate was decreased by 25 percent. This will help business and make Indiana more competitive. Our legislators should also be working to do the same to raise the living standards of all Indiana workers instead of looking at ways to take away more. They also say this is brave action. Unfortunately, it's a cowardly display that panders to their big money donors. These legislators should also remember that 2012 is an election year and the Wisconsin and Ohio situations could be harbingers of strong worker backlash here in Indiana!
