Will the 'right to work' law drive the center to the left?

There is no doubt that if you had to identify the labor movement with one political party it would be the Democrats. Not exclusively, but certainly more often than not. In Idaho, one of the many "right to work" states, where Republicans rule the roost, unions are to management as the bear cub is to the honeycomb. A real threat to its autonomy and harmony.

"Right to work" proponents will argue that wages are not dictated by union representation but by local and regional economic factors. As a former union member I, for one, don't buy the argument that unions can't influence wages. They can, and for the most part in favor of the wage earner. It may not be absolute but it's as close as you can get. But wages are only part of the total package that codified representation entails.

Labor organizations level the playing field between employer and employee and in many cases prevent abuses by management that state laws or lack thereof fail to address. "Right to work" laws have negative impact on work place safety, job security, health care coverage and many other quality-of-life issues.

Employees under collective bargaining more often than not enjoy the freedom to criticize without fear of retribution or termination, a freedom sorely missing in North Idaho.

"Right to work" has nothing to do with finding or maintaining employment. "Right to work" is a means of escape via federal law that allows some to benefit from collective bargaining without paying their fair share. It doesn't doom unionization but it's a major hurdle to overcome.

There are many of us retired in North Idaho today who have come from other parts of the country where, unions and collective bargaining were an integral part of the labor force and responsible for much of the financial security that we enjoy today.

There is a labor movement currently taking place here in Bonner County that quite frankly may be long overdue. The nurses at Bonner General Hospital recently voted in favor of union representation.

There has been friction between management and employees for some time now. After talking with former and some current employees many said they felt like it was "management's way or the highway." Criticism of any kind by staff was dealt with swiftly and quickly. One current nurse described the conditions as "the flogging's will continue until everyone dawns a happy face."

Apparently the firing of three nurses last year was the proverbial "straw" that broke the camel's back. The hospital has been in the union's crosshairs ever since. The three former nurses were compensated by the hospital and required to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding the facts surrounding their termination. If they discuss the settlement they forfeit their financial compensation and could face civil penalties.

If the terminations were legal why the payout and why the restrictive agreement? Is this any way to run a hospital that receives public funds?

Bear in mind that Bonner General is not fast food or retail. It's the only hospital for more than 35 miles in any direction. They provide critical life care services for more than 40,000 people. It's where the paramedics transport accident victims; it's where you take your child when they wake up at 3 a.m. with a high fever.

It's not like we have a choice, we're talking our families' health and welfare. Bonner General has to have the people to get it right the first time. There is no room for politics or personalities when it comes to medical care.

Will "right to work" drive the moderate to the left and become the catalyst for change in the state's labor laws?

What critical service serving Bonner County will be the next to choose union representation in an effort to improve working conditions and level the playing field between management and workers?

Please join Bill on "The Voice" this coming Monday at 12:15 p.m. on 1400 KSPT and 1450 KBFI as the debate continues. Bill can be reached at voxpopuli@sandpoint.net