WISCONSIN NAACP
OPPOSES SO-CALLED “RIGHT-TO-WORK” LEGISLATION AND SUPPORTS WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Madison, WI—In 1961, the late Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaimed, "...we must guard against being fooled by false slogans such as "right to work." Its purpose is to destroy Labor Unions and the freedom of collective bargaining, by which Unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone."
The NAACP has a long and rich history of working with labor unions to promote fair wages and benefits for all American workers and has passed numerous resolutions and action items in support of the right and freedom to unionize and collectively bargain.
Workers in states with so-called Right-to-Work (RTW) laws have a consistently lower quality of life than in other states - lower wages, higher poverty, less access to health care, poorer education for children - according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Census Bureau. Why should Wisconsin adopt a losing RTW strategy that lowers the standard of living for workers and their families?
So called Right to Work States spend $2,671 less per pupil on elementary and secondary education than free-bargaining states, according to the Minnesota AFL-CIO.
So called Right to Work States have higher workplace fatality rates. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of workplace deaths is 52.9% higher in states with Right to Work laws.
We know that 78 percent of private sector union workers have access to medical insurance through their jobs, compared with 51 percent of nonunion workers. And 77 percent of private sector union workers have access to a guaranteed (defined benefit) retirement plan through their jobs, compared with just 20 percent of nonunion workers.
Only 2.9 percent of union workers are uninsured, compared with 14.2 percent of nonunion workers.
This proposed legislation will be fast tracked and the Governor will sign a Right to Work bill that continues the divisive tactics that are prevalent in our state, continue poverty producing policies and promote the theme ”Backwards Wisconsin.” Right to Work laws do not make a state more attractive for business retention instead, these laws expand economic inequality.
NAACP State Political Action Chair, Greg Jones said, “At a time when Wisconsin has received national notoriety as the worst state for the African American child due to racial disparities in economic well-being including income, child poverty and median household income, it is appalling that the legislature would consider and the governor sign this extreme policy. Instead of recognizing their failed policies, they are again, attempting to blame the victim.”
Jones concurs with Reverend Dr. King, elected officials at all levels, all justice seeking organizations and citizens of Wisconsin, in condemning the unnecessary and harmful precedent that the introduction of "Right to Work for Less" legislation in Wisconsin, would establish.
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Issued: Statewide - February 25, 2015
Madison, WI—In 1961, the late Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaimed, "...we must guard against being fooled by false slogans such as "right to work." Its purpose is to destroy Labor Unions and the freedom of collective bargaining, by which Unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone."
The NAACP has a long and rich history of working with labor unions to promote fair wages and benefits for all American workers and has passed numerous resolutions and action items in support of the right and freedom to unionize and collectively bargain.
Workers in states with so-called Right-to-Work (RTW) laws have a consistently lower quality of life than in other states - lower wages, higher poverty, less access to health care, poorer education for children - according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Census Bureau. Why should Wisconsin adopt a losing RTW strategy that lowers the standard of living for workers and their families?
So called Right to Work States spend $2,671 less per pupil on elementary and secondary education than free-bargaining states, according to the Minnesota AFL-CIO.
So called Right to Work States have higher workplace fatality rates. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of workplace deaths is 52.9% higher in states with Right to Work laws.
We know that 78 percent of private sector union workers have access to medical insurance through their jobs, compared with 51 percent of nonunion workers. And 77 percent of private sector union workers have access to a guaranteed (defined benefit) retirement plan through their jobs, compared with just 20 percent of nonunion workers.
Only 2.9 percent of union workers are uninsured, compared with 14.2 percent of nonunion workers.
This proposed legislation will be fast tracked and the Governor will sign a Right to Work bill that continues the divisive tactics that are prevalent in our state, continue poverty producing policies and promote the theme ”Backwards Wisconsin.” Right to Work laws do not make a state more attractive for business retention instead, these laws expand economic inequality.
NAACP State Political Action Chair, Greg Jones said, “At a time when Wisconsin has received national notoriety as the worst state for the African American child due to racial disparities in economic well-being including income, child poverty and median household income, it is appalling that the legislature would consider and the governor sign this extreme policy. Instead of recognizing their failed policies, they are again, attempting to blame the victim.”
Jones concurs with Reverend Dr. King, elected officials at all levels, all justice seeking organizations and citizens of Wisconsin, in condemning the unnecessary and harmful precedent that the introduction of "Right to Work for Less" legislation in Wisconsin, would establish.
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Issued: Statewide - February 25, 2015
