21. Oppose Anti-Union Laws

WHEREAS: Private sector workers in nearly half of the United States are prevented by law or state constitution from negotiating union shop or agency shop clauses in their union contract by so-called "right-to-work" laws; and

WHEREAS: Similar restrictions apply to some or all public employees in 32 states; and

WHEREAS: The corporate-GOP-right-wing movement for a "union-free environment" has a wide ranging program to impose limitations on labor unions, through right-to-work laws, laws prohibiting public employee collective bargaining, rulings of the NLRB favoring employers, and conservative Court decisions such as the Hudson and Lenhert decisions, which restrict the ability to obtain full agency shops or fair share agreements; and

WHEREAS: The term "right-to-work" is in itself a deceptive slogan designed to mislead workers into believing that their individual power is equal to their employer's. Rather, "right-to-work" assures no worker a job, protects no worker against employer bias or management retaliation, and undermines a worker’s right to union representation and the ability to build a strong union that bargains for fair wages and benefits and

WHEREAS: "Right-to-work" laws weaken unions and foster disunity by encouraging workers to ride the backs of their union sisters and brothers by benefiting from the good wages, benefits and job protections negotiated by union members with out sharing the costs of winning and maintaining those gains. Instead of solidarity, the mutual obligations workers share at the workplace are shirked and

WHEREAS: In practice, right-to-work laws encourage employers to "race to the bottom" in pay, benefits, and employment security for their workers, lowering the average pay of all workers and thus really mean "Right-To-Work-For-Less." Of the 15 states with the lowest average annual pay, 10 are "right-to-work" states. "Right-to-work" states have historically paid lower wages and benefits than free states. The adoption of these laws in other states can only lead to a reduction in workers rights, power, wages and benefits and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That Maui Democratic Party continue to take the lead in pushing for the enactment of public employee collective bargaining legislation which would include union & worker security provisions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: I that the Democratic Party of Maui opposes all initiatives to enact new "right-to-work" legislation, and will take appropriate steps to oppose such efforts by "right-to work" groups.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Maui strongly opposes "right-to-work" legislation in states where such legislation exists, and we pledge to work to repeal such laws.