Chicago Teamsters President Dismantles Right-to-Work

Coli Debates Anti-Union Legislation in Illinois Business Journal

“Right-to-work has one purpose: to impoverish the middle class.”
           
John T. Coli, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25, dissects the motives and consequences of contentious right-to-work legislation in a new point-counterpoint editorial in the November issue of the Illinois Business Journal.

In comparison to an endorsement of right-to-work by the Illinois chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Coli offers statistical evidence that workers in right-to-work states earn, on average, $5,500 less each year than their organized and resistant counterparts in nearly 30 other states. The Chicago Teamsters’ President also cites business leaders and politicians, including New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, who view right-to-work as intentional union interference “largely driven by national outside interest groups.”

“For those who believe unions have outlived their purpose, the ongoing debate and resurgence of right-to-work legislation are clear indicators that our presence is essential to protect American workers,” Coli said. “Right-to-work has done nothing to increase employment in this country. It exists to limit workers’ ability to create and join unions, period.”

In addition to historical evidence that right-to-work undermines union contracts, Coli’s editorial also points to right-to-work states that experience worsening school systems, higher rates of poverty and an increase of negative societal conditions. Right-to-work bills were introduced in 14 states in 2011, without any enacting such legislation into law.

“More and more, voters are opposing right-to-work because they understand it’s part of a coordinated effort to eliminate basic workplace rights and lower wages,” said Coli. “On behalf of working families everywhere, the Teamsters will continue to combat these assaults.”

Coli’s right-to-work editorial is available in its entirety on the Illinois Business Journal’s website at www.IBJOnline.com. It is also available for download by Clicking Here.

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana.

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