Reich: Strengthen unions and eliminate state 'right-to-work' powers.

TEN WAYS TO MAKE THE ECONOMY WORK FOR THE MANY, NOT THE FEW: #7, STRENGTHEN UNIONS AND PREEMPT STATE “RIGHT-TO-WORK” LAWS

One big reason America was far more equal in the 1950s and 1960s than now is unions were stronger then. That gave workers bargaining power to get a fair share of the economy’s gains – and unions helped improve wages and working conditions for everyone.

So how do we strengthen unions?

First, make it easier to form a union, with a simple majority of workers voting up or down. Right now, long delays and procedural hurdles give big employers plenty of time to whip up campaigns against unions, even threatening they’ll close down and move somewhere else if a union is voted in.

Second, build in real penalties on companies that violate labor laws by firing workers who try to organize a union or intimidating others. These moves are illegal, but nowadays the worst that can happen is employers get slapped on the wrist. If found guilty they have to repay lost wages to the workers they fire. Some employers treat this as a cost of doing business. That must be stopped. Penalties should be large enough to stop this illegality.

Finally – this one has been in the news lately, and if you only remember one thing, remember this: We must enact a federal law that pre-empts so-called state “right-to-work” laws. When unions are weakened by right-to-work laws, all of a state’s workers are hurt.

http://robertreich.org/post/120107784670