Should Public Employees be allowed to join a Union?

If you study the facts you will see that Right to work states (Union membership not required) show some of the lowest unemployment rates, and overall show better job growth, growth in population and economic growth. Right-to-work States Outperform,1997-2007 Productivity Growth Job Growth Economic Growth Right-to-work 18.6% 17.6% 41.6% Union shop 17.3% 8.9% 33.5% As you can see from this chart (based on information from the US Dept of Commerce) the economic indicators show that Right to Work states do better than Union States. Private Sector job growth and job growth are higher in Right to work states. http://aphiemi.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/facts-on-right-to-work-vs-forced-union-states/ Look at the current Unemployment rate in North Dakota (4.2) and South Dakota (4.8) (Right to Work States)and Michigan (14.3) and California (12.5) Forced Union States. IT should also be noted that both states have large Public Unions. http://www.bls.gov/web/lauhsthl.htm Instead of forcing Union Membership on workers we should be encouraging Right To Work Laws.

Bob, what does unemployment number have to do with this discussion? I am confused on that one. Bob, how many people living in North Dakota and South Dakota? There are more people that live in LA than both of these states combined. It isn't hard to have that low of unemployment when you don't have many people. By the way how is the economy in both of these states, and even the right to work states? How many of them have high unemployment. I did of little of your work for you: Georgia Unemployment rate: 10.4 Alabama Unemployment rate: 11.1 South Carolina: 12.6 North Carolina: 11.1 Looks like the right to work states sure aren't doing much better than the states that don't. But, those are facts, and we all know that those don't matter.

Unemployment is a sign of the economic health of a state. For the comparison between the Dakotas and California we are talking percentages. If 100 people get laid of in North Dakota it will effect their Unemployment numbers but 1000 people laid off in CA will not change their percent. The economies of ND and SD are growing and their population is growing as business move into the area. There are jobs there, business is expanding and taxes are low. If you compare that to CA and NY you find that business and people are moving out, both have high taxes, powerful Public employee Unions, and high unemployment. I am surprised that you did not mention the Unemployment in Nevada (a Right To Work State). Many people point to irresponsible comments by the President about people visiting and conventions in Las Vegas. It was reported by the Convention Bureau that over 400 conventions canceled the week after the President's speech.