1. The ugly truth behind Right-to-Work
Teamsters Local 1932
The ugly truth behind Right-to-Work

2. The origin of “Right to Work”

3. 1941 – The birth of an idea
Dallas Morning News editorial writer William Ruggles, calls out a warning about growing unions; proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting closed or union shop.
Vance Muse decides to pursue the idea, taking Ruggles advice to name the legislation “Right to Work”.
Right-to-Work laws originate as means to maintain Jim Crow labor relations
Picture of Anti-union propaganda mailed by the Christian American Association, 1940’s

4. Vance Muse Leads lobbying efforts
Against: women’s suffrage, child-labor amendment, 8-hour work day
Right-to-Work movement using racist rhetoric
Made lucrative living on behalf of corporate interests, not working people
Vance Muse
Without Right-to-Work…“From now on, white women and white men will be forced into organizations with black African apes whom they will have to call ‘brother’ or lose their jobs”

5. rolls through segregated Southern States….
Right to Work
rolls through segregated Southern States….
Picture featured in: You Hate “Right To Work” Laws More Than You Know, by nsfwcorp.com

6. Martin Luther King Jr. Lead Civil rights movement
United cultures, fought for economic justice for all workers
Spoke against Right-to-Work laws, lead March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
Combated racial inequality through non violent resistance
Martin Luther King Jr.
“We must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as 'right to work.' It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights… Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone… We demand this fraud be stopped. Our weapon is our vote."

7. Evolving faces of Right to Work
Jim Crow Laws- term used to describe segregation laws
John Birch Society- founder, Fred Koch led anti-civil rights campaign
American Legislative Exchange Council- corporate funded, also backed by Koch brothers

8. THE DECLINE

9. “Right to Work” WAGES Poverty Rate Health Benefits
What does this mean?
Average worker in RTW state makes about 22% less a year than those in free bargaining states.
WAGES
Poverty Rate
RTW states have a poverty rate 2.3% higher then non right to work states.
Health Benefits
Workplace Fatalities
21% more people lack health insurance in RTW states compared to free bargaining states.
The rate of workplace deaths is 49% higher in RTW states, where unions can’t speak up on behalf of workers.

10. The future of “Right to Work”

11. NEXT UP: PENSION “REFORM”$
Plantation Owners & Southern Industrialists
FIRST
RIGHT TO WORK LAWS
Vance Muse =
2010s: $
RESURGANCE
OF RIGHT TO WORK =
Multinational corporations
ALEC

12. Organize
Educate
Agitate

13. Organizing Turns Back the Clock

14. What side are you on?
“We must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as 'right to work.' It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights… Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone… We demand this fraud be stopped. Our weapon is our vote." Martin Luther King Jr.
"From now on, white women and white men will be forced into organizations with black African apes whom they will have to call ‘brother’ or lose their jobs." - Vance Muse, founder of the "right to work" anti-labor campaign