[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK BILL

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                               speech of

                            HON. DAVE WELDON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 15, 1998

  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support for H.R. 
59, the National Right to Work Act.
  I am from a Right to Work state and I know first-hand that employee 
freedom and prosperity go hand in hand.
  Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that workers in 
forced union dues states are losing thousands of jobs as well as their 
freedom.
  Just listen to the advantage that Right to Work States have had over 
forced union dues states between 1997-1996:
  Non-agricultural employees in Right to Work states have increased by 
nearly 70% while the increase in forced union states was 35%.
  Manufacturing employment in Right to Work states have increased by 
almost 15% while there was nearly a 15% decrease in forced union 
states.
  Construction employment in Right to Work states increased by almost 
50%, nearly 15% higher than in forced union dues states.
  Manufacturing production workers in Right to Work states increased by 
almost 10%, while decreasing by 20% in forced union dues states.
  Manufacturing establishments in Right to Work states increased by 
20%, while decreasing by .3% in forced union states.
  Personal income in Right to Work states has increased by 405%, 82% 
higher than in forced union dues states.
  Hourly earnings by manufacturing employees in Right to Work states 
have increased by 135%, 13% higher than forced union dues states.
  The average weekly earnings of manufacturing production workers in 
Right to Work states have increased by 145%,15% higher than in forced 
union dues states.
  Mr. Speaker what do these numbers translate into Jobs. Between 1983 
and 1993, Right to Work states created over 500,000 jobs, while forced 
union states lost almost 900,000.
  Mr. Speaker, not only are residents of forced-unionism states paying 
in lost jobs, they are also paying for the cost of compulsory unionism 
out of their wallets.
  Invariably, compulsory unionism leads to union official-inspired 
strikes, slowdowns, inefficient work rules, featherbedding, and a 
``hate-the-boss'' mentality which substantially increase the cost of 
goods, services, and state and local taxes.
  The result is the ``Right to Work boon.'' The average urban family 
living in a Right to Work state has an after-tax, cost of living-
adjusted household income of $36,540--$2,852 more than a family in a 
forced-unionism state.
  As said by former United States Senator Sam Ervin in his 
autobiography Preserving the Constitution, ``Right to Work laws remove 
the motive of the union to subordinate the interests of the employees 
to its wish, and, thus, leave it free to conduct negotiations for the 
sole purpose of obtaining an employment contract advantageous to the 
employees.''


                               conclusion

  Right to Work states offer an economic environment free from much of 
the Big Labor's imposed ``featherbedding,'' and work rules which reduce 
the value of employees' wages by driving up production costs. 
Ultimately, this only serves to reduce the number of jobs in their 
state.
  Mr. Speaker, no one should be forced to join a labor union as a 
condition of employment, and every American should be given the same 
economic opportunities shared by most employees in 21 states.
  I urge you to schedule a roll-call vote on HR 59, the Nation Right to 
Work Act.

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