Issue Position: Right to Work

Issue Position

THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

The United States Constitution guarantees the right to free association in the First Amendment and this right is an essential element in a free society. Therefore, I support the ability of workers to freely associate and, through this association, bargain with their employers for better wages and working conditions.

However, beyond assuring the freedom of association, no government at any level has the right to enforce any behavior upon the employer, nor upon any employees who choose not to participate in the association of workers.

However, beyond assuring the freedom of association, no government at any level has the right to enforce any behavior upon the employer, nor upon any employees who choose not to participate in the association of workers.

Therefore, I am opposed to Big Labor's "card check" approach to unionizing and support only freedom of association. This includes the right to a secret ballot in all union matters.

COMPULSORY UNIONIZATION AND UNIONIZING THROUGH INTIMIDATION OR THREAT ARE ANATHEMA TO THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE AND GOVERNMENT.

Therefore, in the interests of liberty and justice for all, I support the following:

The right of workers to freely associate and to use the strength of their free association to bargain with their employers for better wages, benefits or working conditions.
The right of workers not to participate in such free associations. This includes the rights of workers to not to join a union or to pay union dues in order to gain or keep employment. This is also known as "the right to work."
The right of employers to hire and fire at will. Employers should not be forced by law to negotiate with employees collectively. While it may be in the employers' best interests to bargain with employee associations (unions) collectively, they should do so on the basis of their own self-interest and not by force of law.

That these rights on the parts of both workers and employers should extend to public sector employee-employer relationships, as well.

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