Anti-union politicians have introduced national Right to Work legislation in both the House and Senate. If passed, the legislation would hurt Teamsters and all workers.

The purpose of Right to Work is to weaken the power of unions to win higher wages and strong contracts by driving down union membership. But the fallout hurts everyone who works for a living. 

Wages are lower in states with Right to Work laws. Poverty rates are higher. Fewer workers have healthcare coverage. Workplace deaths are 50% higher. 

Now Senator Rand Paul and Congressman Joe Wilson want to make Right to Work (for Less) a federal law. 

What’s Wrong with Right to Work  

Right to Work’s misleading name is meant to sound American and democratic. The phony argument behind the name is that every worker should have the “right to work” without being “forced to be a union member.” 

But no worker can be forced to be a union member. That is illegal already. Even the notorious union-busting Right to Work Foundation admits it. 

The difference is that under Right to Work laws, workers who are covered by union contracts can refuse to pay union dues. This guts our power to wage contract campaigns and strikes and to represent members on the job.

Under Right to Work, free-riders who pay no dues still get all of the wages, benefits and contractual rights that dues-paying members get. 

The fact is that winning strong contracts takes united members and it takes money. We’re stronger together. That’s why workers form unions and pay dues.

Teamsters need to unite with the labor movement to oppose federal Right to Work (for Less).