By Joel Thurtell
Excellent article by Detroit Free Press editorial editor Stephen Henderson explaining why “right to work makes absolutely no sense for Michigan.”
Sound arguments all the way.
I agree 100 percent.
One fact not mentioned: The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press are open shops, according to contracts negotiated by unions after the long, debilitating lockout that began July 13, 1995.
“Open shop” at the News and Free Press means workers have the right not to be members of a union.
Kind of “right-to-work” in miniature.
The way it works at the News and Free Press, if a worker elects not to belong to a union, he or she doesn’t have to pay union dues.
This is the real reason Republicans rushed to enact so-called “right-to-work” legislation.
Nothing to do with personal liberty, despite all the GOP breast-beating.
It’s all about depriving unions of dues.
Starve them of money, and you weaken unions.
Make them less likely to pursue ballot proposals like the failed attempt to insert workers’ rights to organize collectively into Michigan’s Constitution where Republican hatchet-men can’t kill them.
Cut back on dues, and the unions have less money to help their members.
Less money to pursue grievances and binding arbitration, all of which costs money in legal fees and union administrators’ time.
Less money to build the coffers that bolster unions on strike.
I learned all about open shop when I returned from the Great Newspaper Strike in 1997 and found that only 25 percent of editorial employees in our Newspaper Guild local’s jurisdiction were paying dues.
Seventy-five percent of editorial employees were freeloaders.
Excuse me — we were coached to say “free riders.”
“Freeloaders” is an insulting word.
Very sensitive feelings have these freeloaders.
When I retired in 2007, the proportion of dues-payers had risen to 67 percent. I understand now it’s 80 percent. That’s great, except that it means 20 percent still are scumb — I mean, freeloaders.
People willing to let others carry the burden.
But, of course, freeloaders are quite willing to collect any raises the union might bargain for.
Freeloaders are quite willing to collect the union-bargained pension when they retire to contemplate the supposedly noble life they led in the hallowed fourth estate.
Freeloaders who get into a jam are glad to call the union to represent them if the company is trying to discipline or fire them.
All of those benefits are paid for from union dues that the freeloaders choose through their vaunted personal liberty not to pay.
So here is what I have to say about freeloaders.
We need another law to supplement right-to-work.
Cut the freeloaders out of union-won benefits.
If they don’t pay dues, don’t give them a pension.
Cut them out of health insurance.
When they get in a jam, tell them to find their steward on the street.
You want benefits, you pay dues.
If not, you’re free to go to hell.
