Credit: Politico
Labor supporters are speaking out today against a prominent anti-union group in Kentucky that donated $50,000 to help enact Right to Work legislation on a county-by-county basis in that state.
Earlier this month, Americans for Prosperity announced plans to earmark the money to help the state pass Right to Work one county at a time.
The Right to Work battles have traditionally been waged at the state level.
Union leaders say they’re watching what’s happening.
“We have to make sure we do everything we can in light of this renewed push. We have to match their intensity and ensure our voices–the voices of right and reason–are heard,” says Richard Dalton, business manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 18 which represents all of Ohio and several counties in Kentucky. “It may only be one county at a time, but we can’t let Right to Work supporters gain any ground against Kentucky’s middle class.”
Local 18 represents operators in four northern Kentucky counties: Boone, Campbell, Kenton and Pendleton.
In January, nine labor unions filed a lawsuit in the Kentucky federal court to stop Hardin County from enacting the legislation. Claiming the new legislation violates the National Labor Relations Act, the group stated at the time that the lawsuit could expand to challenge laws in Warren, Simpson, Fulton and Todd counties.
The unions’ attorney, Irwin Cutler, maintains that the federal law only allows for that type of legislation to pass at the state or territorial level.
On December 8, Warren County, home to the sizeable General Motors factory that builds Chevrolet Corvettes, became the first Right to Work county in Kentucky, passing the local ordinance 5-1.
With Right to Work chatter on the rise so close to home, union supporters in Ohio have been paying close attention.
“You never want to hear about something like this happening in your backyard, but fortunately we’re prepared for it” said Dalton. “We’ve dedicated time and resources to ensure we are prepared for any advance.”
Opponents of the recent Ohio Right to Work effort, including the “Workplace Freedom” bills, contend that the initiative’s true purpose is to kill unions and worker protections, ultimately leading to a weaker middle class.
Whether they call it “Paycheck Protection,” “Workplace Freedom” or Right to Work, opponents of the efforts remain dedicated to ensuring the voting public knows the truth about the GOP’s divisive agenda.
For more information on Right to Work in Ohio, visit: http://protectohiosmiddleclass.org/
SOURCE: Keep Ohio's Heritage
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