In Kentucky, ‘right to work’ policies aren’t helping our workers get ahead | Opinion
“Right-to-Work” isn’t working in Kentucky.
Kentuckians are struggling to keep up with rising costs, and it’s not hard to see. Workers’ wages are not keeping up with basic needs, such as housing, groceries, healthcare and childcare. Some people need multiple jobs just to feed their families. While hard-working Kentuckians struggle, the wealthy and well-connected continue to receive tax breaks and special treatment from politicians in Frankfort and Washington.
This didn’t happen by accident. This was by design.
In 2017, we saw a dramatic shift against working families. The first order of business for the new Republican majority in the Kentucky House was passing so-called “Right-to-Work” legislation, House Bill 1. This legislation weakened unions and led to lower pay for workers. Nearly a decade has passed, and workers are not thriving in Kentucky like the GOP said they would.
Big business has virtually no limits on their influence in Frankfort. They spend exceedingly large amounts of money on lobbying the Kentucky supermajority to shape laws to further enrich themselves. When workers try to organize, demand fair wages, safe workplaces, and decent benefits, big business uses the profits they’ve gathered off the backs of working people to directly advocate against them.
Wealthy business interests claim “Right-to-Work” has contributed to the state’s economic growth over the past several years, but whose growth is it, really? The fact of the matter is corporate profits are soaring and executives are cashing in, while families are left scraping by.
It’s true Kentucky has seen record-breaking economic momentum under the leadership of Governor Andy Beshear, including $43 billion in private sector investments and over 63,000 new jobs. However, Governor Beshear agrees Kentucky can attract businesses and investment without simultaneously suppressing unions.
A recent statewide poll conducted by KyPolicy found that 85% of Kentucky voters want the state legislature to prioritize raising worker pay and improving worker benefits. This poll also found that 60% of Kentuckians support making it easier for workers to join or form a union. Kentuckians are telling us they want us to focus on supporting workers, and our colleagues in the General Assembly should listen.
Bad faith politicians in Frankfort will tell you we have a worker shortage. They pin the problem on Kentuckians not willing to work, and absolve big business from any accountability. But in reality, we have a wage problem. Repealing “Right-to-Work” is a necessary step toward fixing that imbalance.
That’s why we have introduced House Bill 585, legislation to repeal Kentucky’s right-to-work law and restore Kentucky’s ability to have strong unions fighting for workers’ rights. House Bill 585 is about making sure Kentucky works for the people who do the work, not just those at the top.
Across the country, states with stronger unions have higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. Union workers earn more, are more likely to have health insurance and retirement security, and are better protected on the job. When unions are strong, workers are strong.
This is a fight worth having. It’s a fight working people are ready for, and it’s a fight we cannot afford to keep putting off.
Standing together is how workers have always won dignity, fairness, and opportunity. This is how Kentucky can build a stronger future for everyone.
Working Kentuckians deserve better.
Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington represents the 79th District in the Kentucky House of Representatives. Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington represents the 93rd District.
