Contact: Michael Millsap, (219) 730-2889, mmillsap@usw.org
GARY, Ind. (July 24) — The United Steelworkers (USW) released the following statement today from USW District 7 Director Michael Millsap of Indiana in response to a Lake County judge’s ruling late yesterday striking down the state’s 2012 union-busting “right-to-work” law. The court ruled the law is a violation of Article 1, Section 21 of the Indiana Constitution, which states that “No person’s particular services shall be demanded, without just compensation.”
“This ruling is a victory not just for unions, but for all of the hard-working people of Indiana, who deserve fair wages, decent benefits and a secure retirement.
“These anti-union, right-to-work (for less) laws are no more than an effort by corporations and their friends in the legislature to help the rich get richer. They are meant to weaken the voices and rights of workers by forcing their unions to work for free.
“Nobody should be forced to work for free. This notion is more than just common sense – it is clearly stated in the Indiana Constitution.
“Our politicians should be striving to create jobs and make life better for all working people - not attacking them with wrong-headed and unconstitutional laws like this.”
USW District 7 represents thousands of workers in the industrial and service sectors in Indiana and Illinois. The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, representing workers in a range of industries including metals, mining, rubber, paper and forestry, oil refining, health care, security, hotels, and municipal governments and agencies.
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