Today, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels made Indiana the 23rd state in the nation that is “Right to Work” (RTW) For the entire Midwest, this is a big deal. The proverbial “Rust Belt” has been a solid bastion of unionization for decades, but this move by Indiana will begin a necessary conversation about the future of the region.
Every time a major company elects to open up shop in Indiana over Ohio or Michigan or Illinois, this is going to be an issue. Remember, Indiana is now the first state bordering Ohio to become RTW. Prior to Indiana, the closest RTW states have been Tennessee and Virginia.
That’s right.
By Indiana going Right-to-Work (RTW), competitive pressure for jobs & industry will be on Ohio to follow suit.
As is the norm, the opponents of RTW, lead by Big Labor, are out spreading disinformation by calling the RTW law anti-union and anti-worker. Factually, they are wrong on both counts.
RTW does not ban unions. It just makes it unlawful for unions to compel workers to join a union and/or pay union dues as a condition of employment. If anything, RTW is, at its core, pro-worker, pro-freedom.
Pro-worker and pro-freedom is a winning combination. As Mark Mix of the National Right To Work Committee (NRTWC) notes, “Poll after polls shows nearly 80% of Americans who regularly vote in federal elections support Right to Work principles.”
It will be a shame if Ohio continues to allow labor unions to hold its economy down.