So-called “Right to Work” laws — Indiana has had one since 2012 — are misleading in name and harmful in effect. These laws prohibit labor contracts from requiring that all workers who benefit from a union contract contribute to the cost of negotiating and enforcing it, effectively allowing some workers to take the benefits of union representation without contributing to the cost.

The NWI Building & Construction Trades Council opposes Right to Work because it undermines the financial stability of unions and, ultimately, the wages and benefits of all workers — union and non-union alike. Research consistently shows that wages are lower in Right to Work states, workplace safety suffers, and worker power at the bargaining table is diminished. In the construction trades, strong unions mean highly trained workers, rigorous safety standards, and fair wages that support families and local economies. When union strength is weakened, the entire industry suffers. We will continue to fight for the repeal of Indiana’s Right to Work law and advocate at every level for workers’ right to organize and bargain collectively.