“This weekend AOC said she wanted to ‘unionize the hell’ out of Texas, aligning with the views of Beto O’Rourke, who has called for the end of right-to-work laws. The extreme policies of team AOC-O’Rourke would lead to the destruction of the ‘Texas Miracle’ by killing Texas jobs and reducing personal incomes for working families.” – Mark Miner, Communications Director
This Weekend Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Said She Wanted To “Unionize The Hell” Out Of Texas. “Stumping for two progressive Democratic congressional candidates over the weekend, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) made a bold, if not overdone declaration. ‘Texas turning blue is inevitable,’ she shouted to a crowd in San Antonio. ‘And when it does, we’re going to make sure we unionize the hell out of this state!’” (Brad Johnson, “AOC Vows To ‘Unionize The Hell Out Of This State’ While Campaigning For Texas Progressives,” The Texan, 2/14/22)
O’Rourke Wants To Eliminate Right-To-Work Laws. “As President, Beto would work with Congress to pass The Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which includes: increasing monetary penalties for employers; making corporate directors and officers liable for participation in or knowledge of the violation of workers’ rights; allowing workers at one company to picket, strike, or support a boycott in solidarity with workers at other companies; and eliminating so-called right-to-work laws, which make it harder for unions to support themselves financially and are associated with lower wages.” (Beto O’Rourke, “A 21st Century Labor Contract,” Medium, 8/22/19)
· A 2018 Study By NERA Found That Right To Work States Have More Economic Growth, Higher Manufacturing Outputs, Faster Growths In Personal Incomes And More Business Relocations Than Non-Right To Work States. “Three years later, NERA has updated the report with additional data that reinforce its original findings. Specifically, the updated report presents the following information about the economic effects of right-to-work laws: ‘Private sector employment grew by 27 percent in RTW states between 2001 and 2016, compared to 15 percent in non-RTW states. … The gap in manufacturing output is also substantial: Real manufacturing output rose by over 30 percent in RTW states between 2001 and 2016 compared with 21 percent in non-RTW states. … Higher growth rates translated into higher personal incomes: Personal income in RTW states rose over ten percentage points more than in non-RTW states between 2001 and 2016, 39 percent versus 26 percent. … Businesses tend to locate in RTW states, as evidenced by the more rapid growth of firms and establishments.” (Sean P. Redmond, “Right-To-Work Laws: The Economic Evidence (2018 Update),” U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, 5/11/18)
O’Rourke Wants “A European-Style System Of Collective Bargaining,” Where Negotiating Would Occur Between Union Leaders And Managers For An Entire Sector, Not Just Company By Company. “Further, O’Rourke’s plan seeks to create a European-style system of collective bargaining, where union leaders and managers would agree on minimum standards for an entire industry sector rather than negotiating separately with each individual company.” (Ian Kullgren, “How Beto O’Rourke Would Help Workers,” Politico, 8/22/19)
O’Rourke Wants To Establish “So-Called Wage Boards” To Create Industry-Specific Pay Standards When There Is Little Union Presence. “For industries with little union presence, O’Rourke says he would establish so-called wage boards, with equal employer and employee representation, to bargain over industry-wide pay.” (Ian Kullgren, “How Beto O’Rourke Would Help Workers,” Politico, 8/22/19)