Right to Work State Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Right to Work State - Assignment Example Indiana has recently become the 23rd Right to Work state in the country. Right to Work is a theory aimed at benefiting employees. The concept essentially prevents employers from forcing employees to join a union and pay union fees. (Ottinger, 2012). Since there are currently 23 states that abide by Right to Work laws; there are also pros and cons to the concept. The research information contained in this essay will cover the history, pros and cons, for and against the concept of Right to Work and attempt to reach a conclusion by analyzing the collected information. The information will include examples of how the laws have been challenged in different states. Therefore, what do Right to Work states contribute to the working quality of employees, or do they, and how did the concept come into being? Lets go back to 1935, under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (Wager Act), labor unions and employers were in control under closed shop rules. Translated this means that if you wanted to work for a company and a union was present you were required to be a part of that union. According to Abby Rapoport in an article in 2012, â€Å"The dream of the New Deal was they were going to northern-ize the South.† (Rapoport, 2012). The concept between 1937 and 1946 was a huge failure. Prominent business power brokers fought to keep their labor and racial platforms. When the Right to Work laws were passed, it weakened the labor union presence in the southern and western states. The legislation prevented unions from gaining a strong foothold and power in these areas. (Rapoport, 2012). The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 did not allow closed shop rules; however, union shop rules emerged and was considered the new game. (Singh, 2008). The rules changed but became more flexible. Bear in mind that these laws differ for each Right to Work state. The general policies stipulate that all workers are required to