A bill that would have repealed Virginia’s right-to-work law has been killed by the Democrat-controlled House.
House Bill 153 was intended to repeal Virginia’s current right-to-work law, which provides that no individual will be forced to join a labor union or pay fees to a labor union to work in the place of his or her choice.
Right-to-work laws are favored across the board, with 71% of Americans saying they favor a right-to-work law, and only 22% saying they disapprove, according to a Gallup poll.
The same poll also found that 82% agree that “no American should be required to join any private organization, like a labor union, against his will.”
Saving Virginia’s right-to-work law is a win for the state’s economy and workforce. Workers in the commonwealth deserve the freedom from being forced to pay union dues or fees just to get or keep a job.
Other states should note the example of Virginia’s failed attempt to repeal right-to-work, people do not support allowing union officials the power to force workers to pay to be part of a union or else lost out on opportunity. Smarter states can be proactive by passing legislation that requires workers to opt in to their unions on a regular basis, rather than signing up once and having to jump through hoops to ever get out.