Jerry Davich: Too many Hoosiers still clueless about right to work

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Updated: February 27, 2012 9:50AM

Right to work.

Those three words have created a firestorm of controversy across this region and the state.

But during my recent informal poll of Northwest Indiana residents regarding this hot-button legislative bill, I routinely heard three other words that took me by surprise.

“I don’t know.”

I’m referring to the contentious right-to-work legislation that has been passed in the Senate and, as of Wednesday, the House.

Of the 20 average, everyday residents I chatted with, only four of them had a handle — and a stance — on the right-to-work issue. (Three opposed it and one supported it, in no uncertain terms.)

Twelve others had heard about it but didn’t know any particulars, let alone have a concrete opinion either pro or con. The remaining four people had no clue about it. Zilch.

“Is it something that gives me a right to a job?” asked Marilyn F. of Hobart, a 36-year-old unemployed mother of two.

Her response echoes a recent poll showing nearly half of Hoosiers don’t know anything about the right-to-work legislation. This certainly must work against the bill’s critics who apparently haven’t gotten their message to the masses.

Not only did most of the people I spoke with not know any particulars, they didn’t even know a rough definition of “right to work.”

First off, I should note that the phrase itself can be misleading, according to the people I spoke with. Maybe it should be called “to work with rights,” one person suggested, because right to work doesn’t guarantee a job to the roughly quarter million unemployed Hoosiers.

Not to dumb things down too much but, if signed by the governor, the right-to-work bill would ban labor organizations from collecting fees or dues for its unionized representation. In other words, it would allow workers to be part of a union without having to pay for its voice, muscle and collective rights.

Supporters of the bill, mostly high-ranking Republican lawmakers and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, claim it will attract new companies to the state and, with them, new jobs. It also will give workers the freedom to choose whether to pay dues to a union, or not.

Critics — and there are many, especially unions as you would imagine — insist the smoke-and-mirrors bill has only one agenda: To bust apart unions and labor representation.

No lack of discussion

For anyone with in-depth knowledge about this bill and its rippling consequences, you may be rolling your eyes while reading my simplified, paint-by-numbers definition. But I think it’s needed because so many region residents know very little about this issue.

However, the Hoosiers who do know about this issue have very passionate feelings about it. When I posted something about it on my social media sites, I received more responses from readers than for any other post or issue in memory, including abortion, religion and gay rights. (Join a lively discussion on my Facebook page.)

What intrigues me, though, is that even this polarizing bill is still unknown to so many Hoosiers, even as it engages and enrages so many others. Just think how many other bills cruise under the radar for most of us.

Supporters of the bill didn’t want this visible debate to turn Super Bowl week into super brawl week in Indianapolis under the national spotlight. Critics had hoped this would happen and play to their favor. The longer this could drag out and more people could get educated about it, surely could aid their cause, they believe.

“The Republicans want the vote right now so the public isn’t educated and so they can avoid Super Bowl demonstrations,” said Dave Green of Chesterton. “Part of the reason most people don’t understand (right to work) is because they don’t work in union shops.”

Proponents of the bill, including Gov. Mitch Daniels (who once opposed it), claim that up to 80 companies opted against relocating or expanding in Indiana because our state does not have right-to-work legislation. Still, Indiana landed more than 200 companies and 20,000 jobs last year, according to news reports.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce openly touts the legislation, including on its website, stating “A right-to-work law does not prohibit labor unions or collective bargaining. Workers would still have the right to join or support a labor union, only now it would be his or her decision to make.”

The Chamber also supplies a link to explain its support at www.morehoosierjobs.com.

“Passing a right-to-work law is the single most important action our lawmakers can take to create jobs and spur the economy,” said Kevin Brinegar, Indiana Chamber of Commerce president.

I will be taking calls about this issue on my “Casual Fridays” radio show this Friday at noon on WLPR 89.1-FM or www.thelakeshorefm.com.