On Monday, Iowa Republicans trumpeted a new study from a Michigan research institute which seems to uphold a theory that right-to-work laws produce higher levels of economic activity.
“Another study shows that #RightToWork laws produce higher levels of economic activity!” Iowa House Republicans tweeted Monday afternoon.
Iowa House Republicans pointed to a study from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (a nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Michigan citizens) which found “that right-to-work laws have a positive and sometimes very positive impact on the economic well-being of states and their residents. Indeed, the study’s findings show that right-to-work laws, on average, cause a one-time, permanent increase in the rate of economic growth in states.”
According to the study, “the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act allowed states to forbid ‘agency shop’ collective bargaining agreements. These types of contracts require all employees, as a condition of their lawful employment, to financially support a union — either through membership dues or ‘agency fees.’ Right-to-work laws enable employees to continue their employment without regard for their status in or financial support of a union.”
In 2012, after a long history as a labor-friendly and pro-union state, Michigan became the 24th right to work state. The Iowa “right to work” law was passed in 1947. A major push by some Iowa legislators to add right to work provisions to the Iowa constitution has been undertaken, as recently as during the last legislative session which convened this past spring.
6 thoughts on “Republicans trumpet connection between right-to-work laws and economic growth”
I always wondered about this “right to work law” it’s a bunch of crap. See for your self.
Iowa Anti-Labor Legislation
“Right to work” laws have nothing to do with the right to work. These laws outlawed union shop agreements in which unions and management agree that all members of a bargaining unit must become members of the union within a specific time period. “Right to work” laws allowed individuals to reap benefits won by unions without paying union dues. The Iowa “right to work” law was passed in 1947 and is still in effect today.
@Rocky – You’re right. Right to work laws have nothing to do with the right to work. All they do is guarantee a person the right to work without being forced to belong to a union. Free choice has always been, and hopefully will always be, one of Americans prized rights. Why unions ever believed they were so special that they should take away that basic right of the working man to choose to belong to a union or not has always been beyond my understanding.
After doing a little research I found that the Mackinac Center for Public Policy is anything but a nonpartisan research institute. They may be right, they may be wrong, but when you’re partially funded by the Koch bros. you’re not nonpartisan.
If unions were as great as some people make them out to be, every company that could be union, would be. The truth is that unions had their day, but that day is long gone. The fact that unions have lost popularity is based on workers realizing that unions are not only no longer needed, but in some ways even detrimental to the worker. And in a country where freedom of choice is so important, the option of joining a union or not i.e. the right to work law, should not be subverted.
What a load of crap. Just ask people in Wisconsin how it effected their state. Wages are lower and benefits are less and their unemployment is high. Just a pact of lies the republicans like to throw out.
iowa calls it self a right to work state i believe this is a crock of bs it sthould called a right to get screwed state if it wasn’t for unions back in the day we wouldn’t have 3 breaks a day and the wages we have now because unions faught for fairness in the work force if they crush the unions the rich will get richer workers will b simply slaves with no rights to fairness or decent wages thank your unions for what u have without them u wouldn’t have half that