Unions lose right to work battle

WISHTV.COM

Jim Shella

Updated: Feb 1, 2012 4:52 PM

The right to work battle at the Statehouse is over.  The governor has signed the right to work bill into law.

Two thousand union protesters filled the Statehouse hallways, chanting when Republicans who support the right to work bill took part in a state Senate debate earlier today.  But not many did.  And some of the Democrats who went to the mic wanted to speak directly to the protesters.  “I wanna take this opportunity to commend each and every one of you,” said Sen. Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte) “for the manner in which you’ve conducted yourselves while visiting your Statehouse.”

“Hang tough, stay strong, this isn’t over yet,” said Sen. Tim Skinner (D-Terre Haute.)  “And always continue to be proud to be a union member.”

But it is over for the time being.  The Senate voted 28-to-22 to send the right to work bill to the governor.

And that sent the protesters outside for rally where one of the speakers was Rep. David Niezgodski (D-South Bend.)  “It was for a very small group of rich corporate interests,” he said.

The speeches were aimed at electing right to work supporters in the November election.  Union members believe their standard of living is on the line.  “Nobody gave me nothing,” said steelworker Rosa Maria Rodriguez.  “I had to fight for everything I have and that’s why I’m here.”

The governor signed the right to work bill in private and issued a statement that said, in part, that opponents have alarmed themselves unnecessarily.   Mitch Daniels says the only changes will be positive ones.

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