Virginia Voters Could End Forced Union Membership
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Twenty-six states currently have what are known as “right to work” laws, which let workers choose whether or not they want to join a union. Just 10 of those states have enshrined that policy in their state constitution, but this November, voters in two more states will decide whether or not to join that list, including Virginia.
What the Referendum Does
This referendum would amend Virginia’s constitution to ensure that a person’s right to work without joining a union is protected. It would also prohibit businesses from requiring workers to join a union in order to get or keep a job.
This referendum will appear on Virginia ballots on November 8. State officials haven’t yet decided which identification number they’ll use for this referendum on the ballot.
In Favor
Workers shouldn’t be required to join a union and pay dues in order to get or keep a job, especially when union dues are often spent on political advocacy that the worker may not agree with. A constitutional amendment would hopefully provide a permanent protection for workers.
Opposed
Forced unionization is the only way to ensure that all workers pay their fair share to support the union that collectively bargains on their behalf for better wages and benefits. Otherwise workers who aren’t in the union will get similar benefits without chipping in.
In Depth
Virginia is already a right-to-work state, so workers in the state aren’t required to join a union to get a job. However, that right isn’t currently part of the state constitution, so it would be relatively easy for the state legislature to reverse the policy with a governor’s approval.
As a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, a majority in both houses of the Virginia legislature had to approve of this proposal twice before voters will have their chance to weigh in. The state House passed the bill on a 64-29 vote in February 2015, and the Senate followed suit a few weeks later, passing it on a 21-19 margin. When it was brought up in the new session of the legislature for a vote in February 2016, the House approved 63-34 while the Senate voted on the same margin as it did in 2015 to place it on the ballot.
— Eric Revell
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