The path to right to work finally seems clear in the Indiana General Assembly. That is good news for working people and good news for the unemployed. It’s not so good for union bosses and Democrat politicians but, as President Obama might say, everyone needs to make sacrifices in order to create a better, fairer world.
Right to work combined with the healthy fiscal situation in Indiana will, we think, give our state a significant advantage in competition with other Midwestern states looking for manufacturing employment.
Those states with right-to-work states laws have had faster-growing economies. Economic growth and per capita personal income growth rates are significantly higher, more than 11 percent higher, according to the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
It has been repeatedly made clear that the right to organize remains in place. It is just there is no right to force workers to pay union dues as a condition of employment.
And that was the real issue — someone else’s money that unions use for a variety of purposes often at odds with the wishes of membership — including support for left wing politicians and causes.
This change, if in fact it again passes the Indiana Senate and is signed by Gov. Mitch Daniels as soon as this week, represents real labor reform and power for the individual.
We are pleased that the Democrats in the Indiana House relented last week from their strategy of stopping state government by walking out whenever right to work was to be brought forward. Even though they were devoutly opposed to the legislation, this time they did their jobs. We look forward to the rest of the General Assembly and the governor doing the same this week.
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