What exactly is “Right to Work?” Well it’s not another one of those imagined entitlements that progressive lefties are always inventing. In fact, it’s also known, more appropriately, as “Freedom to Work.” It’s the simple proposition that every American should have the right to work for a living without being compelled to affiliate with a union;

Compulsory union membership or dues in any form contradict the fundamental human right represented by that principle. Every individual must have the right, but must not be compelled, to join or financially support a labor union.

 
Now let’s begin by getting the requisite “unions have accomplished a lot of good” out of the way. Yes it’s true. During the Industrial Revolution, mid 19th century, average working conditions were abysmal; hours were long, wages were pathetic, young children were employed, concern for worker safety was minimal at best. The union movement was formed to address these issues and was tremendously successful. So much so that most of the reforms they advocated are now codified into state and federal law.
 
Thank you unions. Now get over yourselves.
 
For far too long Big Labor thugs have been holding their members, and American taxpayers, hostage. Consider this from Union Facts:

The labor movement is nothing but the sum of its many parts—millions of working Americans who’ve entrusted union leaders to spend a portion of their hard earned salary for the benefit of the collective good. Financially speaking, the sum of the movement’s parts totals more than $10 billion dollars annually in mandatory dues and controls another $400 billion in financial assets in strike funds, pension plans, and health care benefits.
 
In fact, in just the last five years, hundreds (maybe thousands) of labor leaders at all levels of the movement have been convicted of embezzlement, corruption, racketeering, or engaging in organized crime. The problem is rampant, getting worse, and yet the unions seemingly refuse to address it.

 
Further, union members rarely have any input on the political causes or candidates supported by their dues. (And according to statistics, the majority aren’t happy about it) The results of that support aren’t always favorable – to the individual members, or the unions themselves.
 
Case in point, Big Labor came out in a Big way, with Big bucks, to help elect President Obama – regardless of which candidate their members may have preferred. How ironic then that POTUS just eliminated the possibility of 20,000 new jobs when he killed the Keystone XL Pipeline yesterday.
 
Needless to say, the Laborers’ Union is a bit miffed at his rejection. From Labor Union Report:

“The score is Job-Killers, two; American workers, zero. We are completely and totally disappointed. This is politics at its worst,” 😯 LIUNA General President Terry O’Sullivan said. “Once again the President has sided with environmentalists instead of blue collar construction workers – even though environmental concerns were more than adequately addressed. Blue collar construction workers across the U.S. will not forget this.”
The project would create thousands of good jobs at a time when unemployment in the construction industry is 16 percent with 1.3 million men and women jobless.

 
Hey – he’s your guy 😉
 
And get this:

 
That’s right, only 10% of current union members actually had the opportunity to vote for unionization. For the rest, it was a prerequisite for employment.
 
Perhaps the biggest benefit of Right to Work is its impact on job creation. Of the five most successful states in job growth from 1999-2009, all were Freedom to Work states, while the biggest losers were all forced-unionism states (source: Michigan Freedom to Work):

The Biggest Winners
(all Freedom to Work)
1. Texas +866,000
2. Florida +291,600
3. Arizona +194,000
4. Virginia +138,400
5. Nevada +124,500
 
The Biggest Losers
(all forced-unionism)
46. California -170,400
47. Indiana -225,300
48. Illinois -332,700
49. Ohio -508,200
50. Michigan -687,600

 
But the unions are opposed ~
 

 
There are some humorous elements in all of this. For one, the slightly twisted genius behind the name of the movement itself. It cleverly forces the unions to oppose something called “Right to Work.” They sound downright anti-worker. Devious 😈 Snatched right out of the leftie playbook. They’re tying themselves in knots attempting to discredit the movement:

So-called “Right-to-Work” legislation is a slick slogan designed to trick people into believing that it protects a worker’s right to a job. Nothing could be further from the truth. So-called “Right-to-Work” legislation assures no worker a job, protects no worker against employer bias or retaliation, and undermines living wages and fair benefits.

 
[But of course the Left can deceptively refer to Card Check, which eliminates the secret ballot in union elections, as the “Employee Free Choice Act.”]
 
It’s also funny – and telling – that, while there are numerous sites out there with facts, figures and reasoned arguments supporting Right To Work, the opposition sticks with the usual angry slogans, class warfare and predictable talking points: “Right-to-Work-Indiana is WRONG.”
 
Oddly enough, unions didn’t always fight against the free market, liberty and economic prosperity ~
 

 
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Related:
 
Fighting Union Thuggery with the Facts
Right to Work Laws ~ facts on the issue from Americans for Prosperity
Michigan Freedom to Work ~ Join the effort to get this passed here in Michigan
Workplace Choice ~ News on labor regulations, private and Government sector unions, pensions, and pro-worker legislation
Labor Union Report ~ Comprehensive Source for News & Views on Today’s Labor Unions
Union Facts.Com
National Right to Work Committee
National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation ~ A nonprofit charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by abuses of compulsory unionism