Estados Unidos de América - Measures to weaken unions financially and curtail their political influence gain traction in many states (2012)

Republican legislatures also pushed to expand the reach of so-called «right- to - work» laws. Under those laws, unions - which are required by law to provide equal representation services to workers in the bargaining unit regardless of whether or not they are union members - are prohibited from charging service fees to non-members. Right to work laws provide financial incentives to workers not to join the union and pay dues, since by not joining they can receive the benefit of the collective agreement and grievance and other representation services from the union without having to share in the cost of those services.

In 2011, right-to-work bills that would apply to the private sector were introduced in 14 states. Right-to-work provisions applicable to public sector unions were enacted in Wisconsin and were part of the anti-collective bargaining bill enacted in Ohio but subsequently overturned by referendum.

In addition to the flurry of right - to - work bills, 2011 saw the introduction in dozens of states of so-called “paycheck protection” bills. Those bills, also drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), were designed to make it difficult for unions to collect dues from their members, and to use dues from members for political or advocacy purposes.

With regard to public employees, these bills would prohibit state employers from agreeing to allow union members to pay their dues to the union through automatic payroll deductions - this either altogether or with respect to any portion of their dues that the union uses for political purposes.

With regard to private sector employers, the bills would not prohibit such payroll deductions (which are permitted under federal law) but would require that the individual employee reauthorise the deduction every year in order for it to continue. “Paycheck protection” provisions applicable to public employees were included in the Wisconsin law limiting collective bargaining and were enacted in Alabama with respect to teachers.

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