Worker #Oppression an Obsession of Pro-Business Craze

A lot has been made about union versus nonunion labor in the aftermath of Lincolnshire Village in December 2015 passing a #RightToWork ordinance tied to #BruceRauner’s Turnaround Agenda. Kristen McQueary, representing the #ChicagoTribune’s Editorial Board (the Tribune endorsed Rauner for governor in October 2014), subsequently took her opportunity to demonize unions (“When a town stands up to union,” Dec. 17). But the painful culmination will be—pending an expected lawsuit opposing the legality of the ordinance—the #financial ramifications for ALL working men and women, local businesses and a community that benefits from revenue and a solid tax base to thrive. Gov. Rauner’s idea of “#businessfriendly” makes the working class the sacrificial lambs, and his “right to work” game plan is a misnomer politically designed to depress wages and hurt workers and their families.

Ms. McQueary’s opinions are baseless political talking points void of facts. When she opined that businesses would somehow see #Wisconsin as an economic gold mine because of the state’s Right to Work law, that was foolish conjecture considering Wisconsin ranked 37th in the nation in private-sector job growth according to the recently released report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ranking it behind seven #Midwest states including #Illinois and only ahead of Iowa and North Dakota. Gov. #ScottWalker’s demolition of #collectivebargaining and attacks on the working class have resulted in the 32nd-worst five-year period of growth out of 50 states, again ranking behind Illinois. Gov. Rauner has in the past referred to Walker as “a mentor.” Now approximately 15 months into his tenure and still with no state budget in place as of this writing, Rauner doubled down on his pro-business, anti-worker, middle-class-destructive agenda during his Jan. 27, 2016, State of the State address when he referenced six states—all with Right to Work laws—as examples of his vision.

“(Illinois) communities have to compete with other states like Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas and South Carolina. And too often, we’ve been losing,” Rauner said. “To see more people employed at high pay, we need to stop crushing employers. To create good #jobs, we need more #jobcreators.”

Governor, citing Right to Work states and “high pay” in the same breath would be laughable if not so egregiously wrong. Making Illinois attractive to employers and creating a robust economy is one thing; however, this idea of “crushing employers”—addressing such a problem by turning around and crushing workers and their families—is spoken like a guy who has a history of company #acquisitions and #buyouts at the expense of employees.

When Ms. McQueary dreams of Right to Work zones being a hotbed of growth, the impetus for growth ultimately depends on demand for what those businesses are selling. Depressing wages through Right to Work (data show that wages are lower in states that have Right to Work laws than in states that don't) means less #disposableincome that could make its way back into the #economy. In addition, Right to Work also incentivizes out-of-state labor to #worklocally and then disperse that income elsewhere including outside the U.S. Reducing wages doesn’t generate #jobcreation, but it does invite #unskilledworkers, dangerous work conditions and #inferiorcraftsmanship.

The intensive multi-university study recently undertaken by labor and public policy academics culminated in the release of a policy report that detailed the economic effects of adopting a Right to Work law, and what that might mean for Illinois. The study concluded:

· Right to Work lowers worker earnings.

· Right to Work increases gender and racial wage inequality.

· Right to Work reduces employee benefits and increases workplace fatalities.

· Right to Work law would have a negative impact on Illinois’ economy and budget.

A Pew Research report released in the first quarter of 2016 further reinforced the steady decline in #middleclass households, which constituted 61 percent of all households in 1971 but just less than 50 percent in 2015.

Unions are the one protection workers collectively can count on to work on their behalf at a time when those in political power seek to unleash #oligarchical strength that feeds friends and further oppresses the middle class and its workers. Shame on Lincolnshire and McQueary for buying in to the charade. And let’s not neglect to denounce the Chicago Tribune for stating in its 2014 endorsement, “We'd rather have a governor with Rauner's outsider moxie.”

Being hardheaded and narrow minded doesn’t pay the bills, progress the state nor keep the middle class afloat. Moxie means nothing minus a responsible and respectful vision.

(Written by Don Scott while employed as Carpenters' Communications Director)