Right-to-Work: Supporters say it'll increase worker freedom, opponents say it'll increase freeloading



MADISON (WITI) -- The Wisconsin Assembly has planned a 24-hour debate on "Right-to-Work" legislation beginning Thursday morning, March 5th. Supporters say a Right-to-Work law would increase freedom for workers, while opponents say it'll increase freeloading.

Behind the headlines about wages and unions, is a subtle question: is Right-to-Work about free choices or free riders?

The Right-to-Work debate has two distinct arguments. Republicans say it's all about freedom.

"This is going to give workers the right to choose," Rep. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) said.

Democrats say it's all about freeloading.

"I'm just shocked at this juncture that the Republican Party wants to legislate freeloading," Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) said.

"In the old system, if you liked unions of not, if you benefited from the union, you had to pay a fee.  That was a union shop," UWM Professor Mordecai Lee said.

Lee says the Right-to-Work bill would create a classic problem in economics -- giving workers a choice to receive a benefit without paying for it.

"Under Right-to-Work, you become the free rider. You get the benefit of what the union bargains for, but you don't have to pay fees to the union," Lee said.

"I have not seen any convincing evidence why that should take place," Rep. Kapenga said.

The bill's Republican author says he considered the free rider problem and dismissed it.

"If they appreciate the union and what it's doing, they're going to stay in the union," Rep. Kapenga said.

"I would say that statement's malarkey," Gerald Miller said.

Hundreds of union workers testified at the Capitol on Monday that the Right-to-Work bill would give workers the option of getting free representation.

"And now you want members to opt out?  You want my union that supports me to be weaker?  It's disgusting. It's despicable and disrespectful," Miller said.

The Assembly will begin debating the bill on Thursday, and Governor Walker says he wants it to be the law of the land by the end of the week.

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