Indiana House Passes Right to Work (for Less)

Indiana Democratic legislators, union activists and allies caucus at the Capitol.

CWA activists and union supporters are keeping up the fight against union busting in Indiana, despite the House passing "right to work" (for less) by a 55-44 vote yesterday.

The bill now goes back to the Senate for final action. If approved, Indiana will become the nation's 23rd "right to work" for less state, the first state in 10 years to adopt the anti-union measure.

Angie Schritter, CWA Local 4900 chief steward and chair of the legislative-political action team, said union members and allies have been protesting inside the capitol and making hundreds of visits to lawmakers' office every day since the legislative session began Jan. 3.

Indiana House Democratic B. Patrick Bauer said, "Let the House Republicans explain to the workers of our state why they chose to back a plan that doesn't put Hoosiers back to work, doesn't enable these workers to provide for their families, and increases the risk of injury and death in the places where they work.

"The only places where today's events will be cheered are in the boardrooms of big businesses and corporations across this state. The House Republicans just helped increase the profit margins for these companies at the expense of their workers. But concern for workers was never a motivating factor in this fight. Corporate greed was."

Just one-third of Indiana voters favor passing "Right to Work" for less, and 71 percent want voters, not the legislature, to have the final say on this legislation.

For two legislative sessions, lawmakers who support workers' rights have been fighting against a Republican-dominated legislature and Gov. Mitch Daniels who were determined to push through right to work (for less). Democrats pushed for a referendum on the issue, proposed changes to the bill and didn't show up for some legislative sessions in order to deny a quorum for this bill.