Right to Work....The Big Lie

Right to Work.....
The Big Lie

Companies like to talk a lot about "right to work." Sounds great, doesn't it! Heck, everyone should have a right to work! We should put that in the constitution!

So next time your boss tries to lay you off, or fire you, tell him he can't do that. You have a right to work! Well, at least you'll give him a good laugh. Nothing will change, but he'll chuckle for hours.

Actually, right to work means you have no rights at all. The true concept is "at will employee". This means you are an employee as long as the company wills it, and no longer. If the boss has a cousin that needs a job, he can fire you to give that job to Cousin Joe, no matter how many years of service you have, or how good you are at your job.

It is perfectly legal for your employer to fire you for any reason or no reason at all. Many people believe that they can be fired only for a good reason. In almost all of the states you are considered an "at will employee". This means your employer can terminate you with or without just cause. This is sometimes stated in employee handbooks. Read the following example taken from a company handbook:

"Neither this handbook nor the policies, procedures and benefits described herein constitute a contract between the Company and you or a guarantee of employment for any definite period of time. The Company has the right to terminate your employment at any time, for any reason, and you retain a similar right to terminate your employment with the Company. No manager or supervisor has any authority to vary by contract or otherwise the employment-at-will relationship between you and the Company..."

Isn't it nice that they do give you the right to quit, too? Of course, we've had that right for a few years, since slavery was abolished...

What is shocking are these facts from the American Civil Liberties Union. First, two million "at-will-employees" are fired every year. Secondly, of those two million workers fired, an estimated 200,000 are fired for no reason at all!

There are exceptions to employment-at-will. Federal and State laws provide that you may not be fired on the basis of your age, sex, race, religion, disability or national origin. You also cannot be fired for trying to organize a union in your workplace. The best protection of all is to work under a collective bargaining agreement which is legally recognized. If you have a union, usually you have a right to that job. The only reason you can be fired is for just cause, such as absenteeism or stealing. And if there are layoffs for lack of work, most contracts stipulate the only fair way, last hired, first laid off.

Companies like "right to work" because it weakens unions. They can pit worker against worker, and lower wages for everyone. It strips rights from working families, and gives no right to the worker at all. But it sure sounds good!

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