I just received another call about wage theft at the Workers' Center.  In light of that, this story seemed appropriate.

We Are One - Respect Our Rights!

On April 4, 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding their dream: The right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life.
Today, that same demand is electrifying people across Indiana and all of America. It’s the demand of all people – black, white, Latino and Asian American: The right to join together for our common dreams.
 

Indiana's Chamber of Commerce Report on "Right to Work" Shown for the Lie It Is

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce claims that "Right to Work" legislation is what is needed for Indiana families to enjoy a rising standard of living, but their study is based in politics, not reality.  Click here for a good discussion of what the data really says about "Right to Work" (here is a hint: it does not make our lives better).

Wisconsin Workers are Under Paid

I am sure that you all know that the evidence is against the claim that Wisconsin workers are paid too much.  Click here for a great report which details how state workers are, in fact, underpaid in Wisconsin (and most other places, I would hazard a guess).

Across the country, politicians are pushing laws to limit worker rights and curtail union power.  Click here for a map of what is happening across the country.

Majority in Poll Back Employees in Public Sector Unions

As labor battles erupt in state capitals around the nation, a majority of Americans say they oppose efforts to weaken the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions and are also against cutting the pay or benefits of public workers to reduce state budget deficits, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.  Click here for the full story.

See this articles about the facts about public sector workers in Wisconsin.  Breaking unions will not solve the problems of the deficit.  What it does to is degrade our democracy and hurt the most vulnerable.

Public Employees - Low-wage Workers would be Hardest Hit

Local Union and Community Leaders Hold Press Conference Highlighting Wage Theft

The national network Interfaith Worker Justice has declared November 18 a National Day of Action Against Wage Theft to call attention to this pernicious epidemic and mobilize support for the various efforts to combat it, from national legislation to creative local initiatives.

Wage Theft Legislation: Answering the Opposition

Here are some questions people opposed to Wage Theft Legislation might ask, and some answers.

Don’t these bills hurt businesses, especially small businesses? These entrepreneurs, who employ the majority of the U.S. workforce, could be forced out of business by overzelous enforcement agencies, taking their marching orders from vigilante anti-business organizations and labor unions.