Steve King Introduces National Right to Work Act to End Forced Union Dues for Workers

National Right to Work President applauds legislation that would prevent union officials from extracting union dues from workers as a condition of employment

Washington, DC (March 5, 2013) –Today, Congressman Steve King (Republican-Iowa) along with 57 cosponsors introduced the National Right to Work Act (H.R. 946) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The House bill is a companion bill to S. 204, the Senate’s version of the National Right to Work Act introduced by Senator Rand Paul (Republican-Ky.) with 9 cosponsors.

The one page bill would end Big Labor’s federally-authorized power to force workers to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment. Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Committee, issued the following statement praising the introduction of the bill:

“We’re extremely pleased that Congressman King has introduced the National Right to Work Act, intensifying a growing debate about labor law and worker freedom in our country. This legislation would enshrine the common-sense principle – already enforced in nearly half of U.S. states – that no worker should be compelled to join or pay dues to a union just to get or keep a job.

“In an age of legislative overreach, this is one of the shortest bills ever introduced. A National Right to Work Act does not add a single word to federal law. It simply removes language in the National Labor Relations Act that gives union officials the power to extract dues from nonunion workers as a condition of employment.

“Voluntary association is a quintessential American ideal and the case for Right to Work has always rested on the principles of employee freedom, but passage of a National Right to Work law will also pay economic dividends. Studies demonstrate that workers in Right to Work states enjoy greater private sector job growth and higher disposable incomes than their counterparts in states without Right to Work protections.

“The Right to Work principle is also popular with the public. Polls consistently show that 80 percent of Americans and union members support the principle of voluntary unionism.

“A National Right to Work Act enshrines worker freedom while providing significant economic benefits for workers. The National Right to Work Committee is mobilizing its 2.8 million members to call on their Congressperson to support the National Right to Work Act.”

Twenty-four states currently have Right to Work protections for workers.