Indiana became the first manufacturing belt state in over a decade to pass the right-to-work law. Indiana now joins 22 other states making Indiana the 23rd state to pass the right-to-work law. Out of the 50 senators that voted, 22 of them were against the bill. Indiana also repealed a similar law in 1965.
According to Senator Carlin Yoder, the right to work bill will not stop anyone from joining a union, only allowing those who are against it the option to opt out of union dues.
The right-to-work bill states that a person cannot be required to pay any portion of union dues as a condition of employment nor can he be fired if he joins the union.
Governor Daniels commented that he signed the bill after several businesses decided not to open shop in Indiana.
Some who are in favor of the bill state that not having this law is forced unionism.
Joshua Snyder, senior year business students, said, “It is unfair to require employees to pay costly dues for a service they may or may not want. That it is downright unethical to require all employees to pay union dues as a condition of employment.”
Some against the bill say that Indiana has now become the 23rd “right-to-work for less” state.
Sarah Lauren, junior marketing student, said, “This law will lower wages and give employers the right to fire a person without a union.”
Other states fear that with Indiana passing the right-to-work law the other states will be obliged to do the same.
