Kentucky has been a right-to-work state for nearly a decade. But now, some Democratic state lawmakers are looking to remove the laws they argue are hurting Kentucky workers.
The Bluegrass State passed a law in 2017 barring employers from requiring union membership as a condition for employment. Supporters of the law argued at the time that the policy protects workers' right to choose whether to join a union and pay membership dues. Proponents also say right-to-work policies help attract new businesses to the commonwealth.
But Lexington Democratic Rep. Adrielle Camuel argues the law weakens union strength and makes it harder for workers to form unions. She has filed House Bill 585, which would effectively dismantle Kentucky's right-to-work policy.
"When we talk about right to work, it changed the landscape as far as the ability for people to participate in or join a union, it was an effort to union bust," Camuel said.
It is already illegal under federal law to require union membership for employment, but is some states workers who are not union members could have to pay union dues through "union-security" agreements.
Labor organizations like the AFL-CIO also push back on right-to-work laws, saying those policies are meant to shift power away from workers and towards corporations.
The year before Kentucky's right-to-work law was passed, 11.1% of Kentucky workers belonged to unions. But union membership in Kentucky decreased after the law's passage and bottomed out in 2021,...
from the the-'fraud'-is-coming-from-inside-the-house dept Back in February the Trump FCC announced it was launching new “reforms” of a major bipartisan FCC program that helps poor people afford bro...