In face of state stalling, Lincoln County to consider right-to-work law

• One speaker insisted, “It is un-American to require (a worker) to become a union member and pay dues for services and philosophies an individual personally is opposed to.”

A public hearing will be scheduled in May to consider passage of a right to work ordinance in Lincoln County.

County Commission Elaine Allen championed the issue and headed a discussion that occurred during the public input portion of the commission meeting Tuesday, followed by her motion to schedule the ordinance hearing covered as part of an agenda item.  She pointed out that counties are passing the laws individually in states where legislators haven’t done the job.

Several elected officials and candidates attended the meeting to express their support for passage. No one spoke against approval of the ordinance.  Allen read statements and letters from U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, a Republican running for governor, from State Rep. Greg Nibert, Republican representing District 59 that includes most of the county, and several others.

“Our ordinance would only affect the private sector, but in the broader sense affects our basic constitutional rights,” Allen said. “My constituents elected me to uphold their individual rights. In my opinion, the right to free speech and association is as important as property rights. A right-to-work law uphold the individual worker’s rights and freedom to decide if a union deserves their financial support, as they can for any private organization. (Right-to-work laws) have been shown to bring job creation, increased income and furthers economic development.”

In his statement, Pearce pointed out such a law does not deny the right to form or join a union, but union officials then must listen to those members who pay to support them. Unions are more effective when they listen, he emphasized. John Sugg, district attorney for the 12th Judicial District of New Mexico wrote that right-to-work laws create more business-friendly environment and as an economy improves, crime rates drop. The best crime prevention is a good job.

County Treasurer Beverly Calaway said the county approving a right to work law is important, because she doesn’t think the state ever will pass such a law.

John Billingsley, active in the local and state Republican Party, said the law is about the constitutional right of workers to choose whether to pay toward the support of a union and to freely associate in the workplace.

“It is un-American to require (a worker) to become a union member and pay dues for services and philosophies an individual personally is opposed to,” he said. “(Contrary to the label) it has nothing to do with granting anyone the right to work or to protect them from losing it. The law affirms the right to be free of compulsory requirements.

“As a young man, I owned multiple businesses in southwest New Mexico and was aware of multiple national businesses that refrained from relocating in New Mexico, because of the lack of right-to-work laws. I hate to see that continue to happen year after year” blocking possible diversification.

Burley Cain, a representative of Americans for Prosperity, urged commissioners to pass a right to work law.

“This about protecting American’s rights,” he said. The core of the issue is that workers are forced by the government to pay money to a private organization if they want to work, he said, adding that the Supreme Court going to decide in June if public sector employees can be force to pay as much as $50 per paycheck to unions.

The county push to change the law began in Kentucky and eventually, that entire state capitulated, with corporate investment hitting a record high in 2017, Cain said.

“If you don’t get it though and then have a governor who is (against it), you won’t get it through for a long time,” he said pushing for quick action. “We have an opportunity now. You have the right to do this.”

He acknowledged the issue is partisan with 90 percent of the politically contributed money raised in Illinois by unions, abut $1.5 billion, going to Democrats.

All existing union contracts are exempted, he said. Michigan recently passed a similar law and it is popular in New Mexico with one poll showing 75 percent back passage by the state.

State Rep. Yvette Herrell, a Republican from Alamogordo running for the 2nd Congressional District of New Mexico, said supporters couldn’t managed passage in the legislature, because an increase in minimum wage was attached.

“I appreciate you taking on something the state can’t do right now,” she said. “This can open up the economy and create job opportunities” for students and for returning veterans who can’t find private sectors jobs in New Mexico.

Dr Gavin Clarkson, also a candidate for the congressional district and a business professor and former member of the Trump Administration, said New Mexico is the only one of the states around it with no right to work law. Otero and Sandoval counties have passed laws, all specifically targeted to stay within legal bounds.

Paul Guessing of the Rio Grande Foundation said his organization is dedicated to bringing economic freedom to New Mexico and has been a leader on the issue of right-to-work. He testified in 2015 about a bill that passed the state House, but not the Senate. H pointed to El Paso, Texas, where right-to-work exists and the unemployment rates is 50 percent lower than in neighboring Las Cruces, New Mexico.

State Sen. Bill Burt, a Republican from Alamogordo and a business owner, emphasized that “right to work is simply a choice, nothing more, the right of a citizen to choose whether he wants to join a union or not. I believe it will have a dramatic impact on the economy of the state.”

Commission Chairman Preston Stone commended Allen for her work on the issue. No one spoke in opposition.