On Thursday Nov 4, 2010, State Senator and President of the Missouri Senate Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, unveiled his bold, new agenda to create good paying jobs in Missouri.  He stated that right-to-work (for less) will be a key part of his plan.

     Right-to-work (for less) would allow workers in unionized facilities to avoid paying dues to cover the cost of their representation.  In practical terms, these workers would receive union negotiated benefits while sticking their co-workers with the cost of negotiating those same benefits.

     A comparison could be made to the freeloader that buys a house in a subdivision knowing there are neighborhood association dues to maintain the streets, parks, and other amenities and then not paying the dues owed.

     Just as all of the neighborhood property values would decline as the streets and parks fell into disrepair because our freeloading neighbor refused to pay his dues, wages and benefits would decline in the workplace.  As the “good jobs” pay less, other workplaces discover they can pay less and all of us take a pay cut.

     That’s why union and non-union workers in states free from right-to –work (for less) laws earn $6,590 or 17% more in wages and salaries than workers in right-to work (for less) states according to the U.S. Department of Labor.  Is a 17% cut in pay your idea of economic progress?

     Let’s hope Sen. Mayer has a less bold, more practical plan than reducing wages for Missouri workers while allowing unaccountable freeloaders to become state law!

Darin Gilley
Pacific, MO