Unions in right to work states (employment, legal, accuse, election)

[miamiteacher]

I have seen alot about big bad unions. What about unions in right to work states (there are 22). Should the government be able to break up unions like the one I belong to in Florida?

Fla. Const. Article 1, § 6
§ 6. Right to Work
The right of persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or non-membership in any labor union or labor organization. The right of employees, by and through a labor organization, to bargain collectively shall not be denied or abridged. Public employees shall not have the right to strike. (Constitution Amended by General Election, 1944; Revised by General Election November 5, 1968)

§ 447.02. Definitions.
The following terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

(1) The term “labor organization” means any organization of employees or local or subdivision thereof, having within its membership residents of the state, whether incorporated or not, organized for the purpose of dealing with employers concerning hours of employment, rate of pay, working conditions, or grievances of any kind relating to employment and recognized as a unit of bargaining by one or more employers doing business in this state, except that an “employee organization,” as defined in s. 447.203(11), shall be included in this definition at such time as it seeks to register pursuant to s. 447.305.
* * * * (Enacted 1943, amended effective July 1, 2002.)

There are more points to the Florida Constitution dealing with the union but, these are the important ones (IMO).

[EuroTrashed]

No. As long as unions conform to free market rules they should be able to exist. In such cases they can actually do good.

[HappyTexan]

There's no need to. If you are in an optional union in a right to work state and you strike then the employer has a right to hire someone to take your place.
Since folks aren't locked out of jobs it actually promotes more fairness and equity between union and non-union folks.
Plus raises/promotions are based on the individual's skill, not some union bargaining for the same for all across the board whether they deserve it or not.

Texas is also a right to work state and we also have optional unions.
In the case of teachers it's more for the legal benefits in case something happens and you are accused of something.

[Recovering Democrat]

If you're referring to private sector unions being "broken uo" by either the state of federal government the answer is NO.
If you're referring to public sector unions of state employees being "broken up" by the federal government the answer is NO.
If you're referring to public sector unions of federal employees being "broken up" by state government the answer is NO.
If you're referring to public sector unions of state employees being "broken up" by state government the answer is YES.
If you're referring to public sector unions of federal employees being "broken up" by the federal government the answer is YES.

See . . . it depends.

[miamiteacher]

So even though I live in a right to work state, the state government should be allowed to curtail the political activities of a group of public sector employees joined together in order to negotiate "hours of employment, rate of pay, working conditions, or grievances of any kind relating to employment"?

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by EuroTrashed

No. As long as unions conform to free market rules they should be able to exist. In such cases they can actually do good.

I agree for the private sector, because people have a choice. Both labor and management have to please their customers or they can choose to do business elsewhere. This usually keeps things in balance.

For government employees, there is no customer to keep things in balance. Neither labor nor management has to worry about losing their customers. Therefore, collective bargaining should not be allowed in the public sector.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

I agree for the private sector, because people have a choice. Both labor and management have to please their customers or they can choose to do business elsewhere. This usually keeps things in balance.

For government employees, there is no customer to keep things in balance. Neither labor nor management has to worry about losing their customers. Therefore, collective bargaining should not be allowed in the public sector.

The question wasn't about collective bargaining. It was about unions in Right to Work states.

[Marv101]

Unions in right-to-work states are fine, but businesses such as foreign automakers who see no advantage to unionizing shouldn't be harassed by imbeciles such as the UAW's new President, who has set aside $60,000,000 for recruiting new members.