So-called “right-to-work” laws are government regulations that prohibit employers and unions from voluntarily ensuring that each member who accrues a return from collective bargaining also contributes a fair share. They allow workers to forgo union membership but require unions to continue providing services and benefits to those who do not pay. This reduces the resources […]
According to Gallup, labor unions currently enjoy the support of nearlytwo-thirds of Americans, their highest level of approval in nearly twodecades. Despite their success in boosting wages and offering pathwaysinto middle-class jobs, however, union membership has declined acrossAmerica, driven by the spread of so-called “right-to-work” laws.
The labor movement has historically provided U.S. workers with reliable pathways into good, middle-class jobs. Union membership, however, has gradually declined across America. A primary driver of this decline has been the spread of so-called “right-to-work” laws, which allow workersto receive all the services and benefits of collective bargaining– such as higher wages, better health […]
The movement to implement “right-to-work” (RTW) legislation has accelerated over recent years. Since 2012, RTW laws have been passed in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri. This report investigates the impact of RTW laws passed in three Midwest states for which there is available data – Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin – compared to […]
A “right-to-work” (RTW) law is a government regulation that bars businesses and labor unions from including union security clause in collective bargaining agreements. Union security clauses ensure that each member of a bargaining unit who receives benefits of collective bargaining – e.g., a higher wage, health and retirement benefits, a voice at work – also […]
Efforts to create local “right-to-work” zones would have negative impacts on workers and the economy in Illinois. The preponderance of evidence finds that worker incomes are lower in economies with right-to-work laws and that employment effects are minimal at best. For instance, average worker wages are $2.90 per hour (13 percent) higher in Illinois than […]
This joint Research Report by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois Labor Education Program analyzes the effects that labor market institutions have on income inequality in the construction industry.
The 9 million-job shortfall induced by the late-2007 economic recession has caused states to rethink policies on employment and income growth. One proposed policy change in many struggling states is the implementation of right-to-work (RTW) laws, which limit the ability of labor unions to collect dues from the workers they represent and influence the conditions […]