Are US labor unions in trouble?

A new law passed in Michigan may suggest so.

This week the state legislature became the 24th state to pass a controversial Right-to-Work law.

This law dictates those working in unionized workplaces are not required to join unions or pay union dues.  

For the state where many consider the middle class to have began, unions like The United Autoworkers, have been an integral part of business. In fact, 17.5 percent of Michigan workers belong to a union. 

 So what are the consequences if this Right-to-Work law is passed? 

Supporters of Right-to-Work laws believe it is unfair for those who do not want to be involved in a union to pay dues. However, union supporters suggest that making union membership voluntary weakens the power of unions, causing membership to go down.  With less dues to collect, the union will have less resources to use to organize drives and to voice the concerns of its membership.  

 In 2007, Hofstra professor Lonnie Stevens published a study which found that Right-to-Work  laws do increase the amount of businesses in a state. However, the positive effects result in gains for the business owners and  not the non-unionized workers. 

 Unfortunately, one of the problems with these laws is that it is extremely difficult to quantify their effects.  Oklahoma passed a Right-to-Work law in 2001 and then saw a great decline in its manufacturing industry.  This could also have been due to competition from manufacturing companies in China. 

 The power and activity of those in labor unions has been on a general decline since the 1960′s, the passage of this law could mark an even further decline in union activity. Many policy experts agree that if the Right-to-Work law passes in Michigan it could easily spark more laws in other states. 

President Obama made his position heard in Detroit on Monday, denouncing Right-to-Work as “The Right To Work For Less Money.” He explained how important it is to keep creating dignified middle-class jobs in order for families to rebuild their financial security. 

Is this new law the beginning of the end of labor unions as we know it?