Responding on right to work in Mo.

To the Editor:

This letter to the editor is in response to Mr. Montgomery's letter dated Nov. 28 titled Mo. G.O.P. needs to back up its promises. I believe in Mr. Montgomery's letter he was implying that if the state of Missouri was just a right to work state that car plants and other factories would come flocking to Missouri.

Mr. Montgomery also states that it's a economic fact that right to work states will have higher growth rates than non right to work states.

Arkansas is a right to work state. This unemployment is 7.2 percent. Missouri is at 6.9 percent. There are no car plants in the state of Arkansas and there are two car plants in the state of Missouri. Per capita income for Arkansas is $33,150.00. In Missouri, it is $36,979.00. Also the state of Nevada is a right to work state with the highest unemployment in the nation with 11 and one-half percent. Mr. Montgomery also states that right to work is not anti union, but is pro choice union vs. non union. Yes, employees in right to work states can still unionize, but don't have to pay dues if they wish not to. By law the union has to represent them just like a union paying member. Kind of sounds like a mooch to me.

If you are anti union or pro union you have to admit that unions in this country have raised the wages and safety conditions for all workers. Right to work legislation is really just a anti union agenda that keeps wages depressed for employers.

Instead of pushing a right to work law I would like to see our representatives push this law. Let's call it the right to unionize without harassment law. When I say harassment I mean company's like Walmart. It is well documented that there have been Walmart stores that actually voted to unionize and Walmart would actually shut the store down than acknowledge the union.

Even closer to home, your new representative Mr. Libla did just this, the nail factory was actually started in Malden, Mo. The workers voted to unionize, and the plant was shut down and moved to Poplar Bluff.

In closing, everybody in this area is for economic growth. It doesn't always have to be on the backs of the poor working men and women of Missouri. Call and write your representatives and tell them to stand up for the workers and reject anything to do with passing right to work laws.

Philip Christian

Malden, Mo.