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Right to Work for Less

Right to Work Speakers Bureau Training. Welcome. 10/09/2007. Right to Work for Less. Jk:uawlocal760aflcio. The National Landscape. Jk:uawlocal760aflcio. What is Right to Work?

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Right to Work for Less

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  1. Right to Work Speakers Bureau Training Welcome 10/09/2007 Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  2. The National Landscape Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  3. What is Right to Work? “Right to Work laws make it illegal for unions to collect fees for services that the law requires them to provide.” RTW laws state that a worker can get all the benefits of having a union without having to pay any dues or agency fees. RTW forces unions to spend resources and members’ dues dollars on “free riders.” This weakens the union, collective bargaining and the contract. Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  4. What is Right to Work? Federal law already protects workers who don’t want to be members of a union, but everyone must pay their share of negotiating and administering the contract - that’s just fair. Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  5. What is Right to Work? Workers in states with so-called “right to work”laws have a consistently lower quality of life than in other states. Lower wages, higher poverty and less access to health care, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. CensusBureau. Why should Michigan adopt a losing “right to work” strategy that lowers the standard of living for workers and their families? Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  6. Who is behind RTW in Michigan? Dick and Betsy DeVos Republican Senator Mike Bishop Republican Senator Nancy Cassis Republican Rep Jack Hoogendyk The Detroit Newspapers, primarily The Detroit News David Brandon, CEO Domino’s Pizza Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive Nolan Finley, Editor Detroit News Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  7. Tuesday, August 14, 2007 • UNION DIVIDE, PART 1 • Labor bosses don't share workers' pain • In tough times, leaders still gain as workers lose ground • Mike Wilkinson and Ron French / The Detroit News Michigan news papers are acting just like the Okalahoma Statesman Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  8. Who is behind RTW in Michigan? • The largest conservative state-level policy think-tank in the nation. The Michigan-based organization promotes right wing ultra free market policies on a wide range of issues and espouses limited government principles. In the last few years, the center has received grants from: • Sarah Scaife Foundation • Roe Foundation • Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation • Rodney Fund • Orville D. and Ruth A. Merillat Foundation • JM Foundation • Earhart Foundation • Charles G. Koch Foundation • Walton Family Foundation • Dick and Betsy Devos Foundation • Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  9. Who is behind RTW nationally? Tom DeLay Indicted Former U.S. Congressman & House Majority Leader Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  10. Who is behind RTW nationally? The Walton Family Foundation Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  11. Who is behind RTW nationally? Holland Coors of the Coors Beer Dynasty Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  12. Who is behind RTW nationally? Grover Norquist, The Alliance for Worker FreedomAmericans for Tax Reform New Orleans, Louisianan A Right to Work State Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  13. Who is behind RTW nationally? Center for Union Facts Headed by Rick Berman www.unionfacts.com Last year, $5 million ad campaign against Labor including print/tv/radio ran ads in Michigan, Montana, & Oregon (RTW targets) Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  14. Who is behind RTW nationally? Est. in 1955, 250+ employees, 11 attorneys, claim 2.2 million members Lobbying arm – spent more than $2 million annually to push Congress to enact RTW bills, National Center for Policy Analysis/Heritage Foundation Council for National Policy Public Service Research Council/Public Service Research Foundation Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  15. What do Michiganians think about RTW? If the vote were held today 49% supports RTW 40% opposes 11% are undecided Greenberg Quinlan July30-August 6, 2007 Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  16. What do Michigan union members think about RTW? If the vote were held today 21% supports RTW 67% opposes 12% are undecided Greenberg Quinlan July30-August 6, 2007 Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  17. What do Union household think about RTW? 30% supports RTW 60% opposes 10% are undecided Greenberg Quinlan July30-August 6, 2007 Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  18. Do you believe Michigan workers should or should not change its law so individuals workers can decide whether or not to pay dues? 56% Should change the Law 35% Should not change the law 9% Undecided Gallup Organization 09/01/2006 Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  19. How would Michigan Vote? 62% of likely Michigan voters support the basic idea of RTW. 59% said they would vote in favor of a proposal to make Michigan a RTW state. EPIC-MRA June 10-13, 2007 Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  20. The Oklahoma Experience Oklahomans for No on 695 The 2001 Campaign to Defeat Right-to-Work in Oklahoma (The last state to go RTW) Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  21. The Oklahoma Experience Strategy • High Labor Turnout in a Low Turnout Election • 500,000 Turnout Projection • Win Labor (80-80-80) and make labor 20% of turnout • Short Public Campaign – 4 to 5 weeks • Never refer to as “Right-to-Work,” only as State Question 695 • Where we Started All voters: 57% Yes 32% No Union HH: 21% Yes 71% No

  22. September 11th - 2 Weeks Out Why it all changed • 9/11 Terror Attack - all go off air

  23. The Oklahoma Experience Final GOTV 1,100 canvassers on Election Day 3,750 canvassers total • Knocked on 60,000 Doors over weekend • Knocked on all walkable union doors twice on election day 134,786 completed calls 41,266 No Votes Identified 190,000 GOTV call universe

  24. The Oklahoma Experience Election Results • Yes Vote 447,072 • No Vote 378,465 • Total Turnout 825,537 • Labor 15% of 2001 Vote (Projected turn out at the start of the campaign was 500,000) (Labor is only 6% of the total work force)

  25. The Oklahoma Experience 80-80-80 Goal Result Registration 80% 86%  Turnout 80% 88%  Support 80% 90%  Source: Lake 9/01

  26. The Oklahoma Experience Union Support *Includes OEA Source: Lake 9/01

  27. The Oklahoma Experience Up Against a Daily Drumbeat of Anti-Union Attacks • Governor’s #1 priority • Oklahoma Statesman Newspaper hammering the issue • National Right-to-Work Committee will spend millions • Other right wing extremist organizations will pour in millions more • Opponents on air 6 weeks before election day with first $1 million

  28. The Oklahoma Experience Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating 25th Governor of Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating received the National Right-to-Work Committee's Statesman of the Year award. In the commercial aired just days prior to the vote, Frank told viewers It was patriotic to vote and he would personally be voting for RTW. This created the impression among voters, that voting for RTW was an act of patriotism. . Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  29. Lessons from Oklahoma • What to Repeat in Michigan • Strong Internal Program • Voter Registration • Good Union Buy-In • Membership outreach and education is critical • What to Change • Better community coalitions • Have 1 convener like the State AFL-CIO • START EARLIER

  30. Why Michigan Could Be Different • Larger union density means more Union votes • Oklahoma: 6% • Michigan: 20% • Larger African American base: 14% • Working America • Open 2 Offices to house canvassers • Goal: 150,000 additional members by 11/4/08 The Michigan Labor MovementMaximize These Advantages! MUST

  31. Labor’s Plan to Defeat RTW Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  32. #1 EDUCATE OUR MEMBERS Worker to Worker flyers in the worksites monthly Sept., Oct., Nov.,Dec. Articles in every Labor newsletter monthly Letters from LU presidents to membersMonthly speech material Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  33. SEPTEMBER: Message: Media: Locals: 1st. person stories of value of my Union Radio continues week of Labor Day, all Labor Day parades move message Newsletter articles, speakers available for all membership meetings/events, participate in focus groups OCTOBER:Message: Media: Locals: 1st. person stories of working non-union and/or in RTW states Letters to editor on message Newsletter articles, speakers available for all membership meetings/events, flyer available Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  34. NOVEMBER: Message: Media: Locals The big picture - national right wing agenda Letters to editor - who is behind R TW Newsletter articles, speakers available for all membership meetings/events DECEMBER: Message: Media: Locals: Comparison stats on RTW vs Union states Letters to editor on message Newsletter articles, speakers available for all membership meetings/events, President's letter out to members Jan. thru Nov.8th. Full Blown ballot campaign Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  35. #2 EDUCATE OUR FRIENDS Letters to the editor on the value of unions Outreach to union friendly employers Mail out information to the state’s Democrats Mail out information to coalition groupsEnviromental, Womens, Civil Rights,Farmers and Religious CommunityInvolve our Union Constituency groups Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  36. #3 LABOR’S SPEAKERS BUREAU Goal - 300 trained member to member speakers Fall 2007(Currently 200 are trained) Training at all Central Labor Councils Fall 2007 Presentations to all Local Union meetings, trainings and conferences Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  37. #4 MOBILIZING MEMBERS Using State Legislative Bills to mobilize members Call and write your legislator Begin preparing for a ballot signature campaign Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  38. Next step for all of us Worker to Worker outreach in worksites Speaking at CLCs and Local Union Meetings Speak to family and friends Information to Local Unions I.D. and inform constituency Groups Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  39. Talking to members about Right to Work - Skills practice • What is RTW? • Why is RTW bad for Michigan? • The facts - state comparisons? • Who is really behind RTW? • RTW: Fairness vs. Free Riders? Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  40. What is RTW? RTW laws state that a worker can get all the benefits of having a union without having to pay any dues or agency fees. RTW forces unions to spend resources and members’ dues dollars on “free riders.” This weakens the union ,collective bargaining and the contract. Federal law already protects workers who don’t want to be members of a union, but everyone must pay their share of negotiating and administering the contract - that’s just fair. Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  41. Why is RTW bad for Michigan? The average worker in a RTW state makes $5,900 less per year. Workers in non RTW states are more likely to have health benefits. The rate of workplace fatalities is 44% higher in RTW states.RTW states have higher poverty and infant mortality. RTW states spend $2,260 less per pupil on K-12 education. Workers’ comp benefits are lower in RTW states. Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  42. Who is really behind RTW? The right wing interests behind RTW want to further eliminate the middle class and concentrate even more wealth to the richest 1% in the country. The National Right to Work Committee is funded by big multinational corporations and insurance companies. Here in Michigan the Mackinac Center, a right wing think tank has distributed numerous studies and papers to newspapers, TV and radio. Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  43. RTW: Fairness vs. Free Riders? "Right-to-work" laws just aren't fair to dues-paying members. If a nonunion worker is fired illegally, the union must use its time and money to defend him or her, even if that requires going through a costly arbitration process. Amazingly, nonmembers can even sue the union if they think it has not represented them well enough. Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  44. Starting Yesterday: Message Education:Monthly Worker to Worker flyers will go into every worksite and we will try to reach every member Voter Registration:We will do an October 2007 and a March 2008 campaign and outreach to registered members. In Oklahoma they reached 92% membership registration! Build coalitions : include an education component We are close to winning this effort if we reach all of our members and their households. Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

  45. What you can do • Log on to www.aflcio.org • Begin voter ID of union households • Worker to worker flyers distributed via affiliates network • Articles in local news letters Right to Work for Less Jk:uawlocal760aflcio

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