Web letter by Kimberly Freeman Brown: Right-to-work law would send Indiana further in the wrong direction

Letters

ALEC’s agenda right for AmericaOn May 14 The Journal Gazette, in a piece too cutely titled “Smart ALEC,” attacked the American Legislative Exchange Council, commonly known by its acronym.Sunday

Cheers & jeers

CHEERS to the nice foursome couple at Triangle Park who picked up the bill for my wife and me when we went out to dinner with our 4-month-old son May 11. It was a very unexpected and a very amazing thing to do.Saturday

Letters

Outside pressures make medicine less satisfyingI read with interest the Furthermore “Medicine losing its luster as the profession of choice” (May 2).Friday

It’s no surprise that the same politicians giving tax breaks to corporations are going after workers and their unions (“Daniels praises ‘right to work’ proposal,” Nov. 5). After all, workers acting collectively through their unions are one of the only remaining checks on corporate power, and the last line of defense for our dwindling middle class.

That’s why so-called “right-to-work” legislation is designed to make it even harder for employees to join together for a secure agreement about their work.

Contrary to claims from Gov. Mitch Daniels, right-to-work does not improve the business climate or reduce unemployment. In fact, according to the Economic Policy Institute, since Oklahoma passed “right-to-work” legislation in 2001, manufacturing employment has declined, and more businesses have relocated to other states.

The Occupy Wall Street movement is a testament to the urgent need for balance in our economy through policies that create quality jobs and solve the problems hurting the 99 percent. Right-to-work only moves Indiana further in the wrong direction.

KIMBERLY FREEMAN BROWN

Executive director

American Rights at Work