Right-to-Work passage draws protest

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - One day after the Indiana House of Representatives passed a controversial Right-to-Work bill, opponents of the measure were speaking out and taking to the streets.

Thursday morning, protestors with Laborers Local 204 gathered outside the home of State Representative Bob Heaton, a Republican who voted for the Right-to-Work bill.

Many of the protestors said they felt betrayed by Heaton and believed that the bill would lead to lower wages in Indiana.

“Indiana’s going to be like Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana,” said Charlie Toth, business manager for the union. “They’re going to have the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots,’ because there won’t be any good jobs here.”

Heaton said he respected the protestors’ views, though he believed that the Right-to-Work bill, which forbids mandatory union membership, would increase personal freedom.

“I … believe each American, and specifically each Hoosier, should be able to voice their opinion and concern on issues facing our state,” Heaton said. “These fundamental freedoms can be seen in the Right-to-Work bill, and that’s why I voted for it.”

Other proponents of the measure said it will lure new business and new jobs to Indiana.

Meanwhile, other union leaders said they are still working to stop the Right-to-Work bill from becoming law.

They point out that the House bill still has to pass the State Senate, which has already approved a Right-to-Work bill of its own, and Governor Mitch Daniels still has to sign it.

“We’re going to continue to work and fight and make sure that we do our best to educate our elected officials and make sure they understand the impact this legislation is going to have,” said Tom Szymanski of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Szymanski said that impact would likely include less money for worker training, which is often funded by union dues.

If Right-to-Work does become law, many union leaders say they will fight for its repeal.

They point to Indiana’s first Right-to-Work law which was enacted in 1957 and was repealed in 1965.

“They've been trying to introduce that legislation over many, many terms, and they finally got their way this time, but we're going to continue this fight into the future,” Szymanski said.