With Passage of So-Called Right to Work, Corporate-Controlled Indiana Legislature Moves to Slash Living Standards for Working People

Washington, D.C. (January 27, 2012) – LIUNA General President Terry O’Sullivan issued the following statement in reaction to the passage of so-called right to work legislation by the Indiana Legislature: By ramming through so-called right to work legislation against the will of the people, the corporate-controlled GOP majority in the Indiana Legislature has taken a stand for lower living standards for working men and women at a time when they have already sacrificed their jobs, homes and futures to the Wall Street created economic crisis.

For decades, Indiana has proudly been a place where workers could join together for a common cause and better lives, and to succeed in cooperation with their employers. But now, as this bill advances, Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma and his allies want to undermine that. They are showing themselves to be appallingly out of sync with the working middle class families and to be bought and owned by cash-rich, right-wing corporations with a national anti-worker agenda.

Statewide, unemployment sits at 9 percent and workers are struggling to find jobs and pay their bills. Yet instead of offering real solutions to create good jobs, these elected officials are attempting to undermine existing jobs to increase the profits of their campaign contributors, such as the infamous Koch Brothers.

This year and in 2011, thousands of hard-working Indiana LIUNA members took to the streets and the state Capitol, enraged at the attacks on the American work ethic and fundamental fairness. Their fight is not over.

To Governor Mitch Daniels – and every like-minded official whether in Michigan or Wisconsin or beyond – LIUNA and the men and women who build this country have a
message: The war you have started is a war you will regret.