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Heritage Foundation senior policy analyst James Sherk argues right-to-work will attract more jobs to Michigan.
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Thanks so much -- for more on these protests in Michigan over at the right to work legislation let's bring in James sure he is senior policy analyst.
At The Heritage Foundation pleased to have you join us from Washington DC James welcome to you.
Thank you why do you think right to work is a good idea Michigan.
Well because Michigan's -- -- one of the states that's been hardest hit by the downturn.
And the state legislature wants to do what they -- track jobs -- well known that right to work states have lower unemployment rates.
But there's more investment more in business investment and it's.
It's not that hard to understand why -- businesses don't particularly want to be unionized they don't want to have happen to them what happened at General Motors -- happen to Chrysler.
And by passing a right to work -- you make it to less profitable for unions to organize new companies in an organizing drives drop.
And it's -- you get more investment and more jobs yet you -- -- are one thing that Michigan desperately needed.
Absolutely accurate you wholeheartedly on the devil's advocate side -- the unions would argue that many V.
Freedoms many of the advantages there workers -- -- are because of the lobbies in the history they've had -- -- four.
Those unions are deservedly that they did they deserve -- But look if you can persuade the workers to give -- their money that's fantastic that's your constitutional right.
But workers should not be forced to -- used to union which agenda many of them don't support.
Polls show that 40% of the unit councils and Michigan support this right to work law.
That's probably because there's an awful lot of union members who don't feel that they're getting their values -- from these -- or don't support the -- -- priorities that should have a choice that's their right.
We seeing unions bigger picture here.
Lose membership.
-- a lot less clout right and they had been generations -- how would you characterize the influence of unions and in the country right now.
But we've seen its availability competitive marketplace that Michigan is shooting exhibiting for that.
Up to the late seventies the Detroit auto makers have a lock on the US Margaret.
And the UAW had about a million and a half members but since the late seventy's you've had an influx of competition.
Some of that from Japan that many of them eve Carson you quote unquote you -- -- -- -- -- but being built in America.
But he nonunion states by nonunion American workers.
Ever since that time union membership in Michigan been trending down as consumers have voted for their with their feet for the at the competitors' products.
As long as you've got a competitive marketplace first of all that much unions can do to.
To raise costs for businesses are -- -- You know -- it all sounds great it it makes perfect sense that you look at these pictures that we're seeing right down the capital.
Union members just just outraged.
You know fears about losing this right to work status and you know you wonder if that volatility could have a ripple effect and get in the way of business and ultimately -- PD economy.
That probably not to -- the polls show that a majority of Michigan under support this move.
A by ten to fifteen point margin that we just had a ballot initiative in Michigan.
Ought to prevent the legislature for -- exactly this type of law.
And Michigan voters defeated it by fifteen point margin say I think those protesters are pretty -- representative.
And the polls and election results showed that most Michigan voters support what's going on.
James -- thank you for your timing here and now -- -- on this union issue.
One I think we'll stick around for last.
