This page has some useful ideas that might be worth looking up online and finding reliable sources. The AI from ChatGPT responded to my various searches and provided me with specific ideas, yet it is not allowed to give me the articles that it used to find the information. I need you to help do that for me…
Here is a link to get help from ChatGPT: https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/ (it will require you to create a ‘free’ account to use it).

This is quite similar to asking your parents to help you, we get ideas from our friends or family, but before adding them to our research, we must verify the credibility and accuracy of the information: “Trust, but verify!” An easy way to verify the information from ChatGPT is to search for articles. When we find an article, we use it instead of ChatGPT to explain and prove the idea… So, by paraphrasing the article, we no longer have to mention that we got the initial idea from using ChatGPT (this is the same as when using Wikipedia to get ideas).
ex-1. Search String (Google): “right to work laws” and “wages”
ex-2. Search String (Google): “right to work laws” and “wages” and harvard.edu

IMPORTANT: if we use these words written by ChatGPT in a debate, without mentioning that we did not write these ideas on our own, then we are guilty of plagiarism! The penalty for this can be quite severe! At school, you could get an “F” on an assignment, or get an “F” for the entire class, or you can even get suspended/expelled from school. If your school finds out that you plagiarized at a debate contest — you most likely will be punished and it will be severe!!!

TOPIC (DOC or PDF): Right-to-Work (RTW) Legislation = Desirable (CON) or Undesirable (PRO)

For the upcoming tournaments… PRO = “Right to Work (RTW)” laws are undesirable (CON = desirable).
Resolved: In the United States, right-to-work laws do more harm than good.

PROS AND CONS OF RIGHT-TO-WORK LAWS

10 Advantages of Right-to-Work (RTW) Laws

For the upcoming contests, the CON side is trying to prove that right-to-work laws are helpful.

1. Increased Economic Growth: Right-to-work laws can lead to increased economic growth, as businesses are more likely to locate and invest in states with such laws, which can lead to more jobs and higher wages. For example, states with right-to-work laws have generally higher GDP growth and lower unemployment rates. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as increased economic growth can lead to more jobs and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.Increased Business Competitiveness: Right-to-work laws can also lead to increased business competitiveness, as businesses are not required to pay union dues, which can make them more competitive in the global marketplace. For example, states with right-to-work laws have generally higher levels of exports and manufacturing output. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as increased business competitiveness can lead to more jobs and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.Increased Worker Freedom: Right-to-work laws can also lead to increased worker freedom, as workers are not required to pay union dues, which can give them more control over their finances and job choices. For example, states with right-to-work laws have generally higher levels of worker participation in the labor force. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as increased worker freedom can lead to more jobs and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.Increased Business Flexibility: Right-to-work laws can also lead to increased business flexibility, as businesses are not required to negotiate with unions, which can allow them to respond more quickly to changes in the market. For example, states with right-to-work laws have generally higher levels of business start-ups and entrepreneurship. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as increased business flexibility can lead to more jobs and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more opportunities for self-employment and entrepreneurship.Reduced Labor Costs: Right-to-work laws can also lead to reduced labor costs, as businesses are not required to pay union dues, which can make them more competitive in the global marketplace. For example, states with right-to-work laws have generally lower costs of doing business. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as reduced labor costs can lead to more jobs and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
2. Increased Worker Choice: Right-to-work laws can also lead to increased worker choice, as workers are not required to pay union dues, which can give them more control over their finances and job choices. For example, states with right-to-work laws have generally higher levels of worker participation in the labor force. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as increased worker choice can lead to more jobs and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more opportunities to choose from different jobs and employers.ncreased Investment: Right-to-work laws can also lead to increased investment, as businesses are more likely to locate and invest in states with such laws, which can lead to more jobs and higher wages. For example, states with right-to-work laws have generally higher levels of foreign direct investment. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as an increased investment can lead to more jobs and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.Increased Productivity: Right-to-work laws can also lead to increased productivity, as businesses are not required to negotiate with unions, which can allow them to respond more quickly to changes in the market. For example, states with right-to-work laws have generally higher levels of productivity. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as increased productivity can lead to more jobs and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.Increased Job Opportunities: Right-to-work laws can also lead to increased job opportunities, as businesses are more likely to locate and invest in states with such laws, which can lead to more jobs and higher wages. For example, states with right-to-work laws have generally lower unemployment rates. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as increased job opportunities can lead to more jobs and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
3. Increased Freedom of Association: Right-to-work laws can also lead to increased freedom of association, as workers are not required to join or pay dues to a union, which can allow them to make their own choices about union membership. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as increased freedom of association can lead to more jobs and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more autonomy and control over their own lives and career choices.

10 Disadvantages of Right-to-Work (RTW) Laws

For the upcoming contests, the PRO side is trying to prove that right-to-work laws are harmful.

Lower Wages: Right-to-work laws can lead to lower wages for workers, as unions are less able to negotiate for higher wages and benefits for their members. For example, in states with right-to-work laws, the median worker earns about $1,500 less per year than in states without such laws. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as lower wages can lead to reduced consumer spending and slower economic growth. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a decrease in the standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean less money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.

1. Reduced Benefits: Right-to-work laws can also lead to reduced benefits for workers, as unions have less bargaining power to negotiate for better benefits. For example, in states with right-to-work laws, workers are less likely to have employer-provided health insurance and pensions. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced benefits can lead to increased healthcare costs and reduced retirement savings. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a decrease in the standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean less money to pay for necessities such as healthcare and retirement.
2. Decreased Job Security: Right-to-work laws can also lead to decreased job security for workers, as unions have less bargaining power to negotiate for better job security provisions. For example, in states with right-to-work laws, workers are more likely to be fired without cause. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced job security can lead to increased job turnover and reduced productivity. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a decrease in the standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean less money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
3. Reduced Workplace Safety: Right-to-work laws can also lead to increased workplace safety hazards, as unions have less bargaining power to negotiate for better safety provisions. For example, in states with right-to-work laws, workers are more likely to be injured on the job. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as increased workplace injuries can lead to increased healthcare costs and reduced productivity. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a decrease in the standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean less money to pay for necessities such as healthcare and lost wages due to injury.
4. Reduced Worker Voice and Representation: Right-to-work laws can also lead to reduced worker voice and representation, as unions have less bargaining power to represent the interests of workers. For example, in states with right-to-work laws, workers may have less of a say in decisions that affect their jobs and working conditions. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced worker voice and representation can lead to reduced productivity and innovation. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a decrease in the standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean less money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
5. Reduced Union Membership: Right-to-work laws can also lead to reduced union membership, as unions have less bargaining power to represent the interests of workers. For example, in states with right-to-work laws, union membership is generally lower than in states without such laws. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced union membership can lead to reduced worker power and reduced productivity. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a decrease in the standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean less money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
6. Reduced Economic Mobility: Right-to-work laws can also lead to reduced economic mobility, as workers have less bargaining power to negotiate for better wages and benefits, which can make it more difficult for workers to move up the economic ladder. For example, in states with right-to-work laws, workers may be more likely to be stuck in low-paying, low-skilled jobs. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced economic mobility can lead to reduced productivity and innovation. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a decrease in the standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean less money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
7. Reduced Worker Rights: Right-to-work laws can also lead to reduced worker rights, as unions have less bargaining power to negotiate for better working conditions and job security. For example, in states with right-to-work laws, workers may have less protection against discrimination and harassment. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced worker rights can lead to reduced productivity and innovation. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a decrease in the standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean less money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
8. Reduced Public Services: Right-to-work laws can also lead to reduced public services, as reduced union membership and bargaining power can lead to reduced funding for public services such as education and healthcare. For example, in states with right-to-work laws, public services may be underfunded, leading to overcrowded schools and hospitals. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced public services can lead to reduced productivity and innovation. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a decrease in the standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean less money to pay for necessities such as education and healthcare.
9. Reduced Social and Economic Equality: Right-to-work laws can also lead to reduced social and economic equality, as workers have less bargaining power to negotiate for better wages and benefits, which can lead to increased income inequality. For example, in states with right-to-work laws, the income gap between the rich and the poor may be wider. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced social and economic equality can lead to reduced productivity and innovation. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a decrease in the standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean less money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.

PROS AND CONS OF LABOR UNIONS

10 Advantages of Labor Unions (RTW Laws = PRO Side)

For the upcoming contests, the PRO side is trying to prove that labor unions are desirable.

1. Increased Wages and Benefits for Workers: Labor unions have historically been able to negotiate better wages and benefits for their members than non-union workers, as they have the collective bargaining power to negotiate with employers. For example, unionized workers in the U.S. have historically had higher wages and better benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as higher wages and benefits can lead to increased consumer spending and demand for goods and services. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
2. Improved Working Conditions: Labor unions also have the power to negotiate better working conditions for their members, such as safer work environments, more reasonable hours, and more job security. For example, unionized workers in the U.S. have historically had better working conditions and job security than non-union workers. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as improved working conditions can lead to increased productivity and economic growth. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
3. Increased Worker Representation: Labor unions provide a means for workers to have a voice in the workplace and to have representation in decisions that affect their working conditions, such as wages, benefits, and working conditions. For example, unionized workers in the U.S. have historically had more representation in the workplace and have been able to have a say in decisions that affect their working conditions. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as increased representation can lead to increased productivity and economic growth. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more autonomy and control over their own lives and career choices.
4. Greater Income Equality: Labor unions have historically been able to negotiate higher wages and benefits for their members, which can help to reduce income inequality and provide a more level playing field for workers. For example, states with higher union membership rates have historically had less income inequality. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as greater income equality can lead to increased consumer spending and demand for goods and services. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
5. Increased Worker Productivity: Research has shown that labor unions can lead to increased worker productivity, as unionized workers have a stronger sense of commitment and motivation to their jobs. For example, unionized workers in the U.S. have historically had higher levels of productivity than non-union workers. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as increased productivity can lead to increased economic growth and higher wages. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
6. Improved Workplace Safety: Labor unions can negotiate for better safety standards in the workplace and can provide workers with training and resources to help prevent accidents and injuries on the job. For example, unionized workers in the U.S. have historically had better safety records than non-union workers. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as improved safety can lead to increased productivity and economic growth. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
7. Greater Job Security: Labor unions can negotiate for better job security for their members, such as protecting them from layoffs or unjust terminations. For example, unionized workers in the U.S. have historically had better job security than non-union workers. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as greater job security can lead to increased consumer spending and demand for goods and services because people are more secure in their jobs. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
8. Access to Training and Education: Labor unions can provide their members with training and education opportunities, which can help them to improve their skills and advance in their careers. For example, unionized workers in the U.S. have historically had access to training and education programs through their unions. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as improved skills and education can lead to increased productivity and economic growth. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
9. Greater Social and Political Influence: Labor unions can provide their members with greater social and political influence by lobbying for laws and policies that benefit workers and by participating in political campaigns and elections. For example, labor unions in the U.S. have historically been involved in lobbying for laws such as the minimum wage and the Affordable Care Act. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as laws and policies that benefit workers can lead to increased productivity and economic growth. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.
10. Improved Standard of Living: Labor unions can help to improve the standard of living for their members by negotiating for higher wages and benefits and by providing access to training and education opportunities. For example, unionized workers in the U.S. have historically had a higher standard of living than non-union workers. This can have a positive impact on the economy, as a higher standard of living can lead to increased consumer spending and demand for goods and services. In the community, it can lead to increased prosperity and a higher standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean more money to pay for necessities such as housing, healthcare, and education.

10 Disadvantages of Labor Unions (RTW Laws = CON Side)

For the upcoming contests, the CON side is trying to prove that labor unions are undesirable.

1. Reduced Business Competitiveness: Labor unions can increase labor costs for businesses, making them less competitive in the global market. This can lead to job losses and reduced economic growth. For example, states with higher union membership rates have historically had higher unemployment rates. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced competitiveness can lead to decreased economic growth and fewer job opportunities. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a lower standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean fewer job opportunities and a lower standard of living.
2. Limited Flexibility in the Labor Market: Labor unions can make it more difficult for businesses to adapt to changing market conditions and can limit the flexibility of the labor market. For example, union contracts often include rigid rules and regulations that can make it difficult for businesses to respond to changes in demand. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as limited flexibility in the labor market can lead to decreased economic growth and fewer job opportunities. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a lower standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean fewer job opportunities and a lower standard of living.
3. Reduced Productivity: Labor unions can lead to reduced productivity, as unionized workers may have less motivation to work hard and be productive. For example, unionized workers in the U.S. have historically had lower levels of productivity than non-union workers. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced productivity can lead to decreased economic growth and lower wages. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a lower standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean fewer job opportunities and a lower standard of living.
4. Increased Labor Costs: Labor unions can increase labor costs for businesses, which can lead to higher prices for goods and services and reduced economic growth. For example, unionized workers in the U.S. have historically been paid higher wages than non-union workers. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as increased labor costs can lead to decreased economic growth and fewer job opportunities. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a lower standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean fewer job opportunities and a lower standard of living.
5. Reduced Job Opportunities: Labor unions can make it more difficult for businesses to create new jobs, as union contracts often include strict rules and regulations that can make it difficult for businesses to expand or to create new jobs. For example, states with higher union membership rates have historically had higher unemployment rates. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced job opportunities can lead to decreased economic growth and higher unemployment. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a lower standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean fewer job opportunities and a lower standard of living.
6. Limited Worker Mobility: Labor unions can limit worker mobility by making it difficult for workers to change jobs or industries. For example, union contracts may include clauses that restrict workers from leaving their jobs or require them to pay penalties if they do. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as limited worker mobility can lead to decreased productivity and economic growth. In the community, it can lead to reduced opportunities for workers to find jobs that suit their skills and interests. For individuals and families, it can mean limited opportunities for career advancement and job satisfaction.
7. Reduced Incentives for Innovation: Labor unions can reduce incentives for innovation, as union contracts often include rigid rules and regulations that can make it difficult for businesses to implement new technologies or processes. For example, unionized businesses may have less incentive to invest in new technologies or processes that increase productivity. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced incentives for innovation can lead to decreased economic growth and lower wages. In the community, it can lead to reduced opportunities for workers to gain new skills and advance in their careers. For individuals and families, it can mean limited opportunities for career advancement and job satisfaction.
8. Increased Government Intervention: Labor unions can lead to increased government intervention in the economy, as unions often lobby for laws and policies that benefit workers but can also limit the flexibility of the labor market. For example, unionized workers may lobby for laws such as the minimum wage or the Affordable Care Act. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as increased government intervention can lead to decreased economic growth and fewer job opportunities. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a lower standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean fewer job opportunities and a lower standard of living.
9. Reduced Profitability for Businesses: Labor unions can lead to reduced profitability for businesses, as union contracts often include higher wages and benefits that can increase labor costs and decrease competitiveness. For example, businesses with unionized employees may have less profits than non-unionized businesses. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as reduced profitability for businesses can lead to decreased economic growth and fewer job opportunities. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a lower standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean fewer job opportunities and a lower standard of living.
10. Stagnation of Wages: Labor unions can lead to stagnation of wages for non-unionized workers, as unionized workers often earn higher wages than non-unionized workers. This can lead to wage disparities and can make it difficult for non-unionized workers to compete for jobs. For example, in states with high union membership rates, non-unionized workers may have lower wages than those in states with low union membership rates. This can have a negative impact on the economy, as wage disparities can lead to decreased economic growth and higher poverty rates. In the community, it can lead to increased poverty and a lower standard of living. For individuals and families, it can mean fewer job opportunities and a lower standard of living.

IMPORTANT: Copying the above paragraphs and reciting them in a speech without having verified the information is not only a poor-quality effort, but it is also likely to result in plagiarism. Please use this information to better understand the topic, verify each idea with evidence, and paraphrase the evidence that you find (and not the above). That should provide the best results.

IMPACT OF RIGHT TO WORK LAWS (PRO = RTW Laws are Undesirable):

Search (ChatGPT): Please provide a detailed list of five different ways that right-to-work (RTW) laws are harmful and/or undesirable. Please fully explain each answer explaining it as precisely as possible.

1. Reduced wages and benefits for workers: Right-to-work (RTW) laws can lead to lower wages and benefits for workers because unions may have less power to negotiate with employers. In RTW states, unions may have fewer members, which can make it harder for them to negotiate better wages and benefits for their members.

2. Reduced worker protections: RTW laws can make it harder for workers to advocate for themselves and their rights in the workplace. Unions provide a platform for workers to come together and negotiate for better working conditions and benefits, but RTW laws can make it harder for unions to form and maintain membership, which can leave workers without a strong voice in the workplace.

3. Increased income inequality: RTW laws can increase income inequality because they tend to lead to lower wages and benefits for workers. This can lead to a larger gap between the highest and lowest earners in a state, which can have negative consequences for the overall economy.

4. Reduced job security: RTW laws can make it easier for employers to terminate or lay off employees. Without the protections that unions can provide, employees may be at greater risk of losing their jobs without notice or without proper compensation.

5. Increased political polarization: RTW laws can increase political polarization because they are often contentious issues that are politically divisive. RTW laws can lead to increased tension between labor and management, which can make it harder for politicians to reach compromise on other issues. This can lead to a more divisive and polarized political climate.

IMPACT OF RIGHT TO WORK LAWS (CON= RTW Laws are Desirable):

Search (ChatGPT): Please provide a detailed list of five different ways that right-to-work (RTW) laws are beneficial. Please fully explain each answer explaining it as precisely as possible.

1. Increased economic growth: Right-to-work (RTW) laws can increase economic growth by making a state more attractive to businesses. Businesses may be more likely to relocate to or expand in states with RTW laws because they can avoid the higher labor costs that can be associated with unionized workplaces. This can lead to more job opportunities and increased economic activity in the state.

2. Increased worker freedom: RTW laws give employees the freedom to choose whether or not they want to join a union, aligning with an individual’s personal values and beliefs. This gives employees more control over their own lives and can increase their sense of empowerment.

3. Increased competition: RTW laws can increase competition among unions, which can lead to improved services and benefits for union members. Unions may have to work harder to attract and retain members, which can lead to better wages, benefits, and working conditions for union members.

4. Reduced labor costs: RTW laws can reduce labor costs for businesses, which can lead to increased profitability and more investment in the local economy. Businesses in RTW states may be able to negotiate lower wages and benefits with unions or may choose not to unionize at all, which can lead to lower labor costs.

5. Increased flexibility: RTW laws can increase flexibility for businesses, allowing them to respond more quickly to changes in market conditions and adapt to new opportunities. Businesses in RTW states may be able to make changes to their operations more quickly and easily because they are not bound by union contracts and can make changes without needing to negotiate with unions. This can enable businesses to be more agile and responsive to changing market conditions.

MISC. EVIDENCE FROM SEARCHES (PRO & CON):

The Long-Run Effects of Right to Work Laws,
Harvard University, November 16, 2021
https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/matthew-lilley/files/long-run-effects-right-to-work.pdf
In recent decades, states with Right-To-Work (RTW) laws have experienced higher employment and population growth than states without such laws. We investigate the extent to which these patterns, and other related labor market phenomena, are causally explained by these laws and closely related policies. Using border-pair differences, we find RTW laws are associated with a 3.2 percentage point increase in the manufacturing share of employment. This increase in manufacturing does not merely crowd out other economic activity; we find that people who live in RTWregions have 1.6 percentage points higher employment, 1.4 percentage points higher labor force participation, and 0.34 percentage points lower disability receipt than residents of similar non-RTW areas. However, wages and labor compensation do not appear to be lower on average. In turn, these differences appear to influence both individual residence and workplace location choice. Since their passage, locations with RTW laws have seen higher population growth, and on net attract commuters from non-RTW locations. These labor market effects also spill over into socioeconomic outcomes; RTW laws are also associated with lower childhood poverty rates and greater upward mobility. In particular, children at the 25th percentile of the parental income distribution during childhood have a 1.7 percentage point higher probability of reaching the top income quintile during adulthood if they grew up in a RTW location. These differences in outcomes were not present prior to the passage of RTW laws, persist after controlling for other major policy differences between states, and do not appear primarily attributable to local substitution. Together, this provides evidence that these patterns are substantially caused by RTW laws.

The Future of Worker Power: Labor Organizing and Labor Law at a Crossroads,
Yale University, October 18, 2022
https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/yale-law-school-events/future-worker-power-labor-organizing-and-labor-law-crossroads

What is the future of worker power in the US? On the one hand, the last several decades have been characterized by declining labor power and legal retrenchment. Private sector union membership is at an all-time low, and the Supreme Court recently dealt a major blow to public sector unions. “Right to work” laws, and a raft of other rules make the legal environment inhospitable to organizing and help explain some of labor’s decline. Yet in the last few years there has also been a startling upsurge in interest in unions and labor militancy, both in the US and beyond its borders. Nearly seventy percent of people in the U.S. express approval of unions—the highest level on record since 1965. And in “Striketober” alone, more than 100,000 U.S. workers either participated in or prepared for strikes against multinational corporations, followed by a wave of unionizing among Amazon and Starbucks workers.

The Paradox Of Right to Work Laws and International Human Rights Law,
Amadea Datel, Columbia University, Law Review, August 17, 2021
https://www.culawreview.org/journal/the-paradox-of-right-to-work-laws-and-international-human-rights-law

Right-to-work laws and the accompanying decline in unionization in the United States surfaced in Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31 (2018), where the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public-sector union dues conflict with the First Amendment because such dues require workers to donate their money to public sector unions for political purposes. [1] In a 5-4 decision, the majority applied heightened scrutiny to the fair-share fee requirement, presuming the policy was illegitimate unless the government could demonstrate a compelling interest that justified infringement on free speech. Remaining silent on the question of workers’ rights, jurists determined that the state did not possess an interest in labor peace (neutrality agreements between employers and unions) that could not be achieved through less restrictive means. [2] This ruling attests to America’s hypocrisy on workers’ rights on the international stage. As part of the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO), the United States routinely includes provisions on workers’ rights in international trade agreements, but it has only ratified fourteen out of the 189 conventions. [3] Although international human rights law establishes the right of workers to collectively bargain, the United States has undermined collective bargaining through a series of Supreme Court decisions, including Janus, that have legitimized right-to-work laws by reinterpreting the First Amendment and have thus impeded the efficacy of unions.

The Paradox Of Right to Work Laws and International Human Rights Law,
Amadea Datel, Columbia University, Law Review, August 17, 2021
https://www.culawreview.org/journal/the-paradox-of-right-to-work-laws-and-international-human-rights-law

Nevertheless, the United States fails to recognize such international obligations through its right-to-work laws, which obstruct collective bargaining. These laws prohibit “union-shop” rules that mandate union membership as a condition of employment, including the payment of union dues for collective bargaining. Ensuring that everyone who gains from unionization contributes to its costs, “union-shop” rules prevent free-riding, a situation in which individuals refuse to pay their union dues because they can continue benefiting from the fact that others do. Right-to-work laws first appeared in the 1940s, shortly after President Roosevelt acknowledged the right of employees to organize in the Wagner Act, yet their adoption did not accelerate until the 2010s, when midwestern states joined the “right-to-work belt” of southern and western states—a group of states in which legal restrictions make unionization especially difficult. [9] Conservative legislatures frame right-to-work laws as a component of American exceptionalism, claiming it is “sinful and tyrannical” for the government to “compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors.” [10] Following this argument, conservative legislatures have exempted themselves from international law. Yet right-to-work laws have hindered workers’ rights, with studies predicting that new prohibitions on unions mandating workers to pay their dues will reduce union fee-paying rates by up to 71 percent, thus complicating the ability of unions to exert their collective power. [11]

Right to Work Laws and Union Membership,
Marie Siliciano, Princeton University, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, 1929-2022, 2017
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp01zs25xc091

This thesis investigates the impact of recent Right-to-Work (RTW) laws on private sector union membership. To better understand the mechanism through which RTW affects unions, this thesis evaluates the effect of recent RTW laws in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin on four outcomes: private sector union density, the percentage the labor force covered by union contracts without being a union member, the demographic makeup of labor unions, and union density within demographic groups. Using data from the Current Population Survey, this thesis uses four difference-in-differences models to answer these questions. This thesis found that RTW laws had a significant negative effect on union density, and did not find any effect of RTW on the percentage the labor force covered by union contracts without being a union member. This thesis did not find any effect of RTW on the demographic makeup of labor unions. However, this thesis did find that the magnitude of RTW’s impact on union density was largest among groups that were over represented in unions before RTW, especially black workers. The results of this thesis suggest that RTW laws impose a collective action problem that decreases the extent of unionization, and has negative implications for unions’ ability to play an equalizing role in the labor market.

The Federalist View of Right-to-Work Laws,
Andrew W. Neidhardt, University of Pennsylvania Journal of Law and Social Change, 2015
https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/jlasc/vol18/iss3/2

I use labor unions as an example of a collective group of citizens, and show that they have the ability to create this kind of large-scale organization and representation. Labor unions can be the voices of millions of Americans who otherwise have little say in government. By pooling their resources, American workers who are represented by unions are able to delegate to representatives who can go and be their voice—and a voice of reason. Rather than relying on emotional appeals to American workers, labor union leaders can become policy experts on the complicated issues that our government faces. This falls directly in line with the Federalist vision of government by reason. But these groups are under attack by “right-to-work” laws, which make it difficult for labor unions to organize. In right-to-work states, unionization is markedly lower, meaning that the working class has one fewer method of organizing to gain political representation. Comparing this with the relative ease with which business interests can organize, we must worry about whether we are achieving the Federalist goal of diverse representation in our government.

Workers Are Furious. Their Unions Are Scrambling to Catch Up
TIME Magazine, October 25, 2021
https://time.com/6110014/worker-anger-unions/

‘That silver tsunami is about to hit us’ That unions’ membership rolls are anemic is hardly news. Union membership has been on the skids for decades, largely as a result of increasing globalization and the rise of right-to-work laws that make forming unions more difficult. In 1983, unions represented roughly one out of five workers; now they represent just one in ten. But it’s about to get a lot worse: current union members tend to skew older. Membership rates are highest among workers ages 45 to 64, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and lowest among the younger crowd. Roughly 13% of workers in the 45-54 and 55-64 age cohorts were members of unions in 2020, versus just 4.4% of workers ages 16-24. “This is the challenge of our time. Something like 10,000 people a day are retiring,” Shuler says, “and that silver tsunami is about to hit us.”

CONTACT INFORMATION (Coach Bill):

Bill Eddy,
billeddy@21stcenturydebate.org   
714.655.8135 (I prefer text)
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