History of The National Right to Work Committee
The National Right to Work Committee®’s 2.8 million members come from all walks of life — taxpayers, consumers, employees (union and nonunion), small business owners, retirees, educators and many others.
The strength of our movement is our coalition of citizens members, who, by phone, by mail, and now by the Internet, put Congress and state legislatures on notice that most Americans support Right to Work laws and oppose Big Labor power grabs.
We are united in the belief that every American must have the right, but never be compelled, to join a labor union as a prerequisite for getting or keeping a job.
The National Right to Work Committee has no endowment, no billionaire benefactor and no tax funding.
And unlike Big Labor, the Committee does not force anyone to be a member or pay dues; so all our efforts are made possible by the voluntary support of Committee members.
The union bosses’ forced-dues treasury and near-billion-dollar political machine give them tremendous clout with most politicians of both parties.
Fortunately, the National Right to Work Committee has been there in the past to fight off countless Big Labor-backed legislative power grabs.
And the Committee has been instrumental in helping 26 states pass or protect their own Right to Work laws.
Right to Work members have thwarted some of Big Labor’s most destructive bills.
In fact, Committee members have often had a tremendous impact:
- Congress now contains more Right to Work supporters than at any time in history — thanks to millions of letters, phone calls and petitions from Committee members.
- In September 2001 we were successful in helping Oklahoma become the 22nd Right to Work state.
- In February 2012, NRTW Committee efforts help lead Indiana to become the 23rd Right to Work state.
- On July 10, 1996, for the first time in history, the U.S. Senate voted on the National Right to Work Act, which eliminates those sections of federal law that authorize forced-dues contracts.Although Big Labor’s Senate cronies defeated the bill, that this vote happened at all is a tribute to the tenacity of Committee members who flooded the Senate with postcards, letters, petitions and phone calls demanding a vote.Passage of the National Right to Work Act will continue to be the Committee’s number one priority.
- In 1994 and 1992, Committee members fought off Ted Kennedy’s economy-wrecking Pushbutton Strike Bill in the Senate by persuading enough Senators to ignore Big Labor’s massive political machine and uphold worker freedom.Kennedy’s strike bill, which would have given Big Labor unprecedented power to call and win massive, job-crippling strikes, fell two votes short because of the efforts of Committee members who inundated their Senators’ offices with letters, postcards, petitions and phone calls opposing the bill.
- In 1987 and 1986, Committee members flooded the U.S. Senate with more than 1,000 telegrams a day to derail Big Labor’s attempt to pass their coveted Construction Forced Unionism Bill.The bill, which would have forced tens of thousands of construction workers to pay union dues to help overflow Big Labor’s election-year war chest, was foiled thanks to pressure from Right to Work supporters.
- In 1985, the Committee won the decade-long battle to enact a Right to Work law in Idaho. And in the 1986 elections, we helped Idaho citizens defeat the union bosses’ referendum scheme to repeal their new Right to Work Law.
- In 1978, we halted the phony Labor Law “Reform” Bill, which would have further jeopardized the fundamental rights of workers.
- And in 1977 and 1975, the Committee prevented universal forced unionism in the construction industry by defeating the Common Situs Picketing Bills.
These and other victories have resulted in the Committee’s legislative initiatives receiving unprecedented attention in Congress and the state legislatures.
With every battle — win or lose — we grow stronger. And someday, with a concerted effort by you, me and thousands of Right to Work supporters all over America, I hope we may:
- Pass the Freedom from Union Violence Act — Stop union-boss violence by revising the Hobbs Act to make acts of violence committed by Big Labor punishable under the law, just like they are for everybody else — eliminating the special immunity the union bosses enjoy from the law that was created by the out-of-touch 1973 Supreme Court’s Enmons decision.
- Enact State Right to Work Laws – Repeal compulsory unionism in the 24 forced-unionism states and protect Right to Work laws in the 26 states where they already exist. In addition to our success in Oklahoma, the Committee is pushing for Right to Work laws in a dozen states, from Colorado and New Mexico all the way to New Hampshire and Hawaii.
- Pass a National Right to Work Law — Eliminate the sections of federal law that empower union officials to force Americans to pay union dues in order to get or keep a job.Even though Ted Kennedy and his Big Labor cohorts successfully filibustered the National Right to Work Bill, getting every Senator on record for or against Right to Work was a tremendous victory and lays the groundwork for future success.
We have the opportunity to make important headway in the next few years — especially now that Right to Work enjoys its strongest legislative position ever.
But despite our past victories and present opportunities, the principle of voluntary unionism is still in danger.
Over the years the union bosses have proven themselves masters at controlling key federal positions (regardless of who’s in charge), thereby dictating our country’s labor policy.
And they have billions of dollars, all accrued through forced dues, at their disposal to try to block or reverse Right to Work’s progress.
And don’t forget, it was Big Labor’s political machine that twice installed their “anything y’all want” President Bill Clinton in the White House, giving the entire union legislative agenda an ally holding the most powerful job in the world.
Unless Right to Work members mobilize the nearly 80 percent of Americans opposed to compulsory unionism, Big Labor’s forces in Congress will:
- Force Government Workers to Pay Union Dues — The union bosses want the power to force all government workers to pay union dues — or be fired.
- Seek Control of State and Local Government Employees — Union czars also seek legislation which would impose monopoly bargaining on all state and local employees, allowing Big Labor to bully employees into violent strikes and other labor disputes.
- Pass So-Called Labor Law “Reform” — Big Labor’s political operatives and their cronies in Congress are eager to pass so-called Labor Law “Reform” into law. This so-called “reform” would unleash union “organizers” on the nation’s small businesses to ensure no company and no worker ever says “no” to forced unionism.
- Repeal Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act — The union hierarchy also wants to repeal Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act, thereby instantly wiping out all state Right to Work laws.And in the meantime, the National Labor Relations Board, controlled by Bill Clinton appointees, is refusing to enforce Section 14(b) thus allowing union bosses to coerce workers even in Right to Work states.
Yet I believe, if enough concerned citizens join in the fight, we can overcome Big Labor’s forced-dues empire and win.
As I mentioned, the Committee’s work is made possible only through the voluntary contributions of freedom-loving Americans.
Any contribution you might care to make would be greatly appreciated and would be put to good use in the battle against compulsory unionism.
How to Contribute Financially
You may contribute to the Committee direct by sending a check or money order to: The National Right to Work Committee, 8001 Braddock Road, Springfield, Virginia 22160; call us at (703) 321-9820 and ask for our Membership Services Department; or donate online.
The National Right to Work Committee accepts credit card donations directly through our web site. The online donation process is fast, easy, and provides state-of-the-art transaction security.
Because of the Committee’s tax-exempt status under IRC Section 501(c)(4) and its state and federal legislative activities, contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions (IRC Section 170) or as business deductions (IRC Section 162(e)(1)).
Even though there is no tax benefit, I feel a contribution to the Committee is one of the greatest investments anyone can make in the future of America.
Again, my sincere thanks for your interest in Right to Work. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Mark Mix
P.S. Please join today! As a dues-paid Committee member, you’ll receive our monthly NEWSLETTER along with other important mailings to keep you up to date on the latest events in Right to Work.
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