Right to Work laws just benefit big business

In his letter to the editor (Dec. 28, 2006; Daily Bee) about the Right to Work law and its "benefits," Patrick Ashby neglected to disclose a few important facts.

First, Mr. Ashby is the public spokesman for the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, an organization founded to promote and defend Right to Work laws.

Second, he didn't mention that, of the 22 states with Right to Work laws, only three have personal incomes above the national average.

Third, he didn't tell you that the average Right to Work state ranks 33rd out of the 50 states in personal income.

Fourth, he didn't mention that Idaho, which has been a Right to Work state for more than 20 years, is 44th in personal income for 2005, down from 42nd in 2000. (U.S. Statistical Abstract, Table 660)

Fifth, Ashby didn't tell you that more worker accidents occur in Right to Work states. According to United States Department of Labor 2003 data, 19 out of the top 25 worker fatality states are Right to Work states.

What the proponents of Right to Work never tell you is that their program is designed to keep wages down for the benefit of big business. And, they never tell you how successful they are at achieving that goal.

It's interesting that, in spite of Idaho's increasing employment, we are seeing our per capita income decline in relation to other states. Could Right to Work be part of the problem?

BOB WYNHAUSEN

Sandpoint