Boeing move not isolated

Boeing's move to South Carolina, a bad thing for the Machinists' union, steps up the trend which began with the garment and broader textile industry leaving New York and New England and continues with the auto industry leaving Michigan. Business friendly sunbelt states have encouraged the trend with economic incentives and non-union friendly right to work laws.  More and more heavy manufacturing will seek the competitive advantage of a union free workforce.

NRTWLDF aids workers

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation has provided free legal assistance to 3 Michigan Teamsters in their attempt to opt out of paying full union dues. This is a problem we do not see in states with Right to Work laws, because union membership cannot be a requirement for employment. In non-Right to Work states an employer and a union can agree that employees must be union members. In that situation, employees who do not want to be full union members, must become financial core members and pay a portion of the unions dues attributable to the cost of representation. The Supreme Court in Communication Workers v. Beck, "guarantees the right of workers to opt-out of forced dues intended for purposes other than workplace bargaining, including lobbying, political activism, and members-only activities." It also requires unions to provide an independent assessment of how dues money is being spent.