Assignment

One of the most hotly debated subjects in labor relations today is that of 'Right to Work' laws. It's time to do some deeper research and take a position on this controversial issue. In a narrative, do the following:

1. What is the history of 'Right to Work' laws? Where did they come from? Who proposed them and why? Has their purpose or effect changed since original inception?

2. Accurately summarize both sides of the 'Right to Work' debate. What exactly is each side arguing, and what are the defenses to the claims of their opponents?

3. Articulate your own opinion on this issue. Are 'Right to Work' laws ethically sound? Are they good for unions? Good for employers? Good for employees? If one or more of these stakeholders are disadvantaged, how? Do the benefits of these laws outweigh the costs? Why or why not?

4. What is your prediction for 'Right to Work' laws in America? Currently, the country is divided more or less 50:50 in terms of states with and without such laws. Will they become the new norm? Or will they regress and be repealed in the states that have enacted them? Defend your predictions with sound reasoning.

Submission Instructions:

This assignment should at a minimum contain 1,000 words of content (double spaced). Word count does not include headings, cover pages, references, or question text (if you choose to include it in your paper); I am looking for 1,000 words of substance. Your paper should be in APA format including a properly formatted cover page (abstracts are optional) and a reference page with at least three NEW references ("new" here means references that you have not already used in previous assignments in this course). Providing additional references to your assignments demonstrates your desire to conduct additional research on the topic area, and can improve your research skills.

With all assignments, include properly formatted in-text citations within the body of your work for each of your listed references so the reader can ascertain your original thoughts or ideas as well as the portion of your work that is credited to credible sources. It is very important to identify work from other sources to ensure that proper credit is provided to researchers in the field.

Article: Right-to-Work Laws, the Southernization of U.S. Labor Relations and the U.S. Trade Union Movement's Decline by Victor G. Devinatz.