Pro-Union. Pro-Worker.

Groups of workers in the same profession that organize for their collective interests are called labor unions. They operate by taking dues from individual workers in exchange for collective bargaining (the negotiation of wages and other benefits for workers).

Workers who aren't official members of the union still pay dues. Collective bargaining covers all workers regardless of union membership status, and in order to maintain those conditions all workers need to contribute. Right-to-work (RTW) legislation exists to provide those non-union member workers the opportunity to opt-out of paying dues while still receiving collective bargaining benefits as long as the union exists.¹

As previously defined, RTW legislation allowed workers to opt-out of paying for union dues and still receive collective bargaining benefits. The caveat here is that this arrangement would remain for as long as the union exists. However, when everyone opts-out, the union cannot employ people to do the legal bargaining process or maintain its stability.¹

The union falls apart due to the free-rider dilemma.

Now, workers in a formally unionized space, lack all of the collective bargaining benefits they once had. Benefits like guaranteed vacation time, overtime pay, or even just protection from random firing are all gone as soon as the union contract is voided. Of course, employers must maintain certain requirements as labeled by federal law, but those laws only go so far to actually protect workers.

How many states really adopted RTW legislation, though?

This paints an incredibly grim picture of labor politics in the U.S. With 28 states maintaining legislation that makes it harder for workers to organize for their own interests, this pay discrepancy only adds tension to an already inflamed political climate.

Considering the COVID-19 pandemic for a moment, understand that tensions surrounding labor are at an all time high. It only takes a quick Google search to see shortages are occurring across the nation. From nurses to teachers, workers are leaving necessary fields.

Are these workers vacating positions just because of COVID-19? No, but the pandemic was the catalyst for many. Between poor working conditions and stagnating wages, workers are responding by quitting.

"The most recent U.S. Labor Department’s monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, released last week [as of October 2021], showed there were 10.4 million job openings in August whereas the number of people leaving their jobs (the so-called “quits rate”) rose to 4.3 million, the highest level seen on records dating back to Dec. 2000." - Holly Ellyatt⁴

Starbucks has officially opened the door for workers across the U.S. to get involved, to quit accepting the poor working conditions they are in, and to organize despite the previously successful pushback RTW legislation had on states. RTW legislation doesn't prevent you from unionizing, it just makes it harder.

These workers aren't giving up. Not just Starbucks employees either. Anywhere from Amazon to REI to Chipotle, workers are standing up and fighting back. So much so that in the past year alone (as of August 30th, 2022), unions have won more elections than they have in the past twenty years.⁶