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Employee choice: The small change that will create a big difference

By Aaron L. Morris

Large and powerful labor organizations want us to believe that Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s proposal to introduce “employee choice” is the end of the line for Kentucky’s unions. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Actually, making Kentucky an “employee choice” state would require only a relatively minor adjustment in state policy. The impact on Kentucky’s workforce, however, would be considerable.

Employee choice gives individuals the right to choose – without fear of losing their jobs – whether or not to join a union. It guarantees that no employee can be forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment. That’s it. The right of an employee to join, organize, form or participate in any union activity is not affected in the slightest.

If a union provides valuable services and quality benefits to members, then workers will obviously want to support it. But they should not be forced to choose between joining a union and keeping their job.

Labor unions routinely use both their influence and money raised from members’ dues to support both political candidates and issues. However, many workers support other candidates and have serious ethical problems with allowing part of their paychecks to fund campaigns they oppose.

In today’s environment, the only choice available to Kentucky workers caught in this predicament is to find a new job where they will not be compelled to join a union that espouses beliefs different than their own.

Unions spend their money as if all members support the same issues and candidates, which is not the case. Workers deserve the right to refuse supporting causes for which they don’t believe without fearing the loss of their jobs.

Recently the government employees’ union in the state of Washington negotiated a new contract requiring all state workers to either join the union or be fired.

The mandatory requirements caused Cheryl Conn, who worked for the Department of Labor and Industries, to quit her job and leave the union. Conn, who had been active in her local union as both a shop steward and delegate, said she could not support such coercion.

“I quit the union because compulsory union membership or dues is wrong to impose on state employees,” said Conn, who was quoted in the Heartland Institute’s Budget and Tax News. “An organization should have to earn its supporters by providing ongoing excellent service. What exists now is pure extortion.”

Conn also told a reporter for the Washington Olympian newspaper that she would not compromise her values or ethics to keep her job.

“I won’t join the union – unless the union does a radical turnabout,” she said.

Implementing employee choice in Kentucky would not only protect individual workers but would also improve the state’s economic health, including the distinct possibility of more jobs.

Union leaders and their lobbyists want us to believe that employee choice is a false alternative that would force workers to choose a low-wage private job over a high-wage union one. That simply is not the case in today’s economy.

When workers have more employment choices – not collective bargaining with unions – employers will offer higher pay and better benefits to entice  them.

Passing legislation to allow employee choice will enable Kentuckians to benefit from opportunities they have been missing. Employee choice will attract new companies and expand employment options available to employees looking for new and better jobs. Without employee choice, many companies will neglect to consider the commonwealth when deciding to relocate or expand their operations.

Employee choice is not about union-busting or infringing upon anyone’s constitutional right to associate. Rather, it’s about letting workers decide what’s right for themselves, their families and futures.

The time has come to stop treating hard-working Kentuckians like mechanical cogs in a giant labor machine. The time has come to let employees – and new employers – choose Kentucky.

Aaron Morris is fiscal policy analyst for the Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky’s only free-market think tank

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