The State of Iowa is considering making Iowa a weakened Right to Work state.  If the legislature gives unions the right to take non-union worker paychecks it will be a step backward for the State and an unfair penalty to workers who choose to not join a union.    Most (about 75%) Iowa public sector employees do not join the union.  Unions would indeed love to have that money from those workers.  The proposed law has stipulations on how unions can use the money.  But really, how will the State of Iowa and the workers know how the money is funneled and spent once in the hands of the union.  Perhaps a new Auditor position will have to be created and funded by tax payers to monitor this additional bureaucracy. Unions claim that non-union workers are freeloaders.  They are not freeloaders.  They are independent thinking, hard working and responsible workers who are not afraid of their employer.  They don’t value the service of the union and many resent being controlled by the limiting contract.  Many workers prefer to be in charge of their own destiny and they reject the long held tenet of labor unions of everybody being treated the same, regardless of performance.    

Last week a government worker said this to me, “I just quit the union because I was tired of the union not actually doing what the employees wanted; and I’ve never needed the union; and if I ever did find myself in a situation where I needed representation, I’d find myself an attorney – not the union”.   Employees are protected in the workplace by many state and federal laws, including OSHA, Equal Pay Act, The Civil Rights Act title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act, ADEA, FLSA, FMLA, and many more.  Iowa public sector employees also have extra protection against pay discrimination via comparable worth legislation.    

This new proposed legislation would require workers to involuntarily turn over approximately $300 of their earned pay to the union.  This amount is about 85% of union dues.   Is 85% fair and reasonable?    Imagine how it would feel to cough up $300 for nothing or for something you don’t want.  (I actually experienced that feeling while living and working in Minnesota.)  Forced remuneration to a union is the same as forced membership.  Closed union shops were outlawed many years ago.  Workers should not be required to join a union.  Workers should not be required to pay money to a union.    There’s nothing fair about coercion.   If the unions do such a terrific job for their members, employees will see that and join.  Unions should earn their money.  That is the current process and it is a good one.   Politicians should not write laws that force workers to give their pay to unions.  There is nothing fair about that.