Right-to-work is steeped in deception, starting with the title. It does not bring in new business, but rather puts corporate profits before the public good.

Former Rep. Eric Burlison (R133) sponsored A.L.E.C.’s RTW fill-in-the-blank legislation, putting a thumb on the scale, favoring corporate owners over workers.

RTW is bipartisan, harming all “employees” across the political spectrum by destroying worker protections and benefits and gutting pensions.

More than 55 percent of non-union workers are subject to forced arbitration through their employment contracts. Workers only win 21 percent of the time, with settlements averaging $100,000. They win 57 percent of the time in state court with settlements running around $500,000. Since attorneys’ fees are based on settlement amount, they are less likely to take an arbitration case. Injured workers are left with a stacked deck.

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In a case involving the rights of tens of millions of private sector employees, the U.S. Supreme Court, by a 5-4 vote, delivered a major blow to workers, ruling for the first time that workers may not band together to challenge violations of federal labor laws.

Writing for the majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch said that the 1925 Federal Arbitration Act trumps the National Labor Relations Act and that employees who sign employment agreements to arbitrate claims must do so on an individual basis — and may not band together to enforce claims of wage and hour violations.

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The U.S. Supreme Court will issue a decision on the Janus v. AFSCME case, which is part of the “right-to-work” agenda.

For people not familiar with “right-to-work,” it is a misnomer; it isn’t about the right to hold a job, work for a fair living and support your family. Instead, it is about the right to work for a company that wants to pay you less for the same amount of work done each day, if not more. It is about stripping away the rights of being a card-carrying union member. It is a chance for the big corporations to take away your right to be able to bargain collectively for fair wages, benefits, vacation and sick days.

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COLUMBUS – We Are Ohio, a citizen-driven, community-based, bipartisan coalition that includes public and private sector workers and employees, and more has announced their endorsement of Issue 1, a constitutional amendment that would end gerrymandering of congressional districts.

“Issue 1 is a bipartisan solution to a problem that affects all Ohio voters: gerrymandering,” said Dennis Willard, spokesperson for We Are Ohio. “We are simply joining a long list of Ohioans who support this amendment. Gerrymandering is a threat to democracy, and must be eliminated so that Ohio voters can rest assured their vote will make a difference. Ohio voters should choose who they elect, not the officials who draw the district lines. Issue 1 will put the power back in the hands of the people where it belongs.”

We Are Ohio formed in 2011 and led the effort to veto Senate Bill 5 by a 62-38 percent margin later that year. We Are Ohio is a citizen-driven, community-based, bipartisan coalition that advocates for working Ohioans.

CONTACT:
Dennis Willard
614-209-8945