Team MAPE supports MAPE friendly candidates and legislation. Our issue priorities include: achieving fair compensation for state employees, fixing our broken health care system, preventing outsourcing and privatization of state services and protecting our pension and retirement benefits.

MAPE's statement on 'right to work': amendment will lower quality of life, harm middle class

Submitted by mcody on February 2, 2012 - 11:56am

State Sen. Dave Thompson (upper right photo) and Rep. Steve Drazkowski (lower right photo) held a press conference Thursday to publicize an anti-middle class amendment that would force union workers to pay for their non-union co-workers’ representation. MAPE's statement is below.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO's statement is here: Anti-Middle Class “Right to Work” Amendment Bad for Working Minnesotans, Bad for Business (PDF)

The Uptake has a video of the press conference at this website address: www.theuptake.org/2012/02/02/mn-gop-proposes-anti-union-constitutional-amendment

For immediate Release
Contact: Leslie Sandberg (651) 746-9767

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Senator Thompson Carries Water for Corporate Special Interests with “Right to Work” Constitutional Amendment

Amendment will Lower Quality of Life in Minnesota, Harm Middle Class Workers

Steve Drazkowski The constitutional amendment sponsored by Senator Dave Thompson will lower the quality of life in Minnesota. Thompson’s amendment, if passed would harm all middle class workers, union and non-union. By looking at examples of household income, insurance coverage and pensions, on average people who live in “right to work” states have a lower quality of life than Minnesotans. The only winners with this constitutional amendment will be corporations that will be able to pay their employees less, reduce health care coverage and workplace protections.

“Don’t be fooled by Senator Dave Thompson’s spin of this amendment offering choice for workers – Sen. Thompson is carrying the water for corporate special interests” said Jim Monroe, Executive Director of Minnesota Association of Professional Employees. “This amendment uses deceptive language giving the impression that if you support unions, good wages, fair benefits and a safe workplace, you should vote for this amendment’s passage. In reality, supporting this amendment means voters will choose a lower quality of life in Minnesota for all workers.”

Here are some highlights of life under a “right to work” state compared to Minnesota:

Lower wages for all middle class workers. Life under a “right to work” state means a cut in wages — an average of $5,333 annually — higher health care premiums, and the end of work place protections for all workers.

Lower Household income. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009, 21 out of 22 “right to work” states had lower household income than Minnesota. Minnesota, with a median household income at $55,616, is approximately $9,500 higher than average household income in “right to work” states. The state of Mississippi had the lowest median household income at $36,646.

Lower Pensions. More workers have pensions in Minnesota than in “right to work” states. On average, in Minnesota 53 percent of private sector workers have pension coverage while on average only 43 percent of private sector workers have coverage in right to work states. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)