NILRR Clipsheet June 19, 2015

A black and white image of an eagle with its wings spread.

Most of U.S. Manufacturing GDP Now Emanates From Right to Work States

www.nrtwc.org, June 15, 2015

According to U.S. Commerce Department data released on June 10, last year a record 47.9% of the entire U.S. manufacturing output, measured in current dollars, occurred in states that had prohibited compulsory union dues and fees. (A link to the entire release may be found at the end of this post.)

As recently as 2004, just 36.6% of the manufacturing production in the U.S. occurred in Right to Work states.

Guest commentary: Why I stopped paying the SEIU

In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in a case that originated in Illinois, called Harris v. Quinn. This ruling made the state’s attempts to force-unionize day care providers illegal.

It was surreal having a U.S. Supreme Court decision vindicate the struggle that I fought for years.

Letter Exposes NLRB Official’s Apparent Conflict of Interest and Possible Violation of Law

Watchdog.org, June 17, 2015

In what seems to be more evidence of the National Labor Relations Board’s pro-union leanings, a recent letter to members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation details what appears to be certain conflicts of interest by the regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) office in Philadelphia, including fundraising from unions and pro-union law firms.

In spite of his role with the NLRB, however, Walsh’s service as chairman of the pro-union Peggy Browning Fund (PBF) is what raises questions about his “impartiality,†according to Philadelphia labor lawyer Wally Zimolong.

Lt. Gov. Condemns His Boss For $50,000 Union Payoff

Daily Caller Online, June 15, 2015

Despite being unable to seek another term in office, Nixon received the large campaign contribution from the United Automobile Workers (UAW) less than a week after killing a bill that would have ended forced union dues or fees in the state.

Senate panel OKs pay, benefit limits for union leaders

Detroit News Online, June 16, 2015

A committee voted 4-1 along party lines Tuesday to send the full Senate bills to prevent taxpayer dollars from going toward salaries or pensions of public employee union officials. So-called leave time, for union business, no longer would count toward retirement benefits either.

Ironworker gets 4 years in racketeering case

philly.com, June 18, 2015

A protégé of Local 401 boss Joseph Dougherty, he often bragged about his willingness to get aggressive with contractors who refused to hire union workers. He questioned union leaders whom he considered too timid to deliver a threat or throw a punch. And once he set his sight on running for union business manager, he turned a normally staid election process into a back-channel smear campaign.

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