The Proposed Republican right-to-work legislation is just another attempt to take away organized labor’s collective bargaining rights. Employers and laborers negotiate and agree to all working conditions, including payment of dues and service fees. These working conditions are not forced on employees by union leadership, but are voted on by the employees, who work under this jurisdiction. New hires and current employees voluntarily accept these working conditions or seek employment elsewhere. It’s their choice.

It is my opinion that the state legislators should be dealing with issues that affect the well being of all Minnesotans and not single issue pressures for political reasons.

Mr. Tom Schleck’s March 20 “Letter to the Editor” made reference to labor law reform in support of right-to-work legislation. I respect his opinion, but I disagree completely with him as it serves no purpose to free workers of payment of dues or service fees, but it would take away collective bargaining power to peacefully negotiate monetary gains and benefits as labor statistics reveal that organized labor monetary benefits greatly exceed the payment of dues.

I am proud to be a retired union member, who played a part in upgrading the working conditions of laboring people. I stand in support of the current law and feel the right-to-work law would send labor in a downward spiral.

 

Arlis Bachtle

Albert Lea