Right to Work

In Illinois, the right to work is a legal phrase in labor laws. Although it sounds good, who could possibly be against a person’s right to work? The truth of the matter is the phrase means labor unions are regulated to reduce their right to form. Thus, fewer labor unions, fewer organized workers to organize strikes or other actions that drag down respect and fair play for workers.

I raise this issue because railroad laborers are in a huge union that has been thwarted from striking by congressional action. Yes, the congress can do this. It is meant as a tool to save the nation from a crippling labor action that would hog tie our economy and make joblessness swell for others. If anyone thinks the current supply chain problem could not be worse, just imagine a nation whose freight cannot be moved by trains, including intermodal trucking operations. Although the economy would not be stopped in its tracks, the effect would be pretty terrible.

I know this action has been frustrating to rail workers. That is because they have been working without a complete contract agreement for a very long time. Railway owners have dragged out contract negotiations. Workers are the losers. A strike is their only tool left to gain a final negotiation with owners. Justice for workers in this case simply does not exist. And that is unfair.

I was raised in a household that was against labor unions. When I reached adulthood, however, I observed the struggle between labor and management and watched the injustice firsthand. I came to respect unions and what they have brought to all employees, organized or not. The reign of injustice continues, nonetheless.

If congress has the right to block a strike, it seems to me that congress also has the duty to make a fair labor union contract happen. It doesn’t seem fair to allow this authority to be one sided. The legislation avoiding the current strike gave workers a significant wage increase but the main sticking point is paid sick leave that has been blocked by employers forever. The rest of us generally get paid sick leave. Why force rail workers to work sick or get docked? Why spread illness among the rest of the work team?

December 7, 2022

 

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