BENTON – Right to work legislation has certainly become a highly debated topic in the state of Kentucky as multiple counties across the Commonwealth including Boone, Hardin, Todd, Warren, Pulaski, Simpson, Cumberland, Logan, Butler, Adair, Rockcastle, Pulaski, Oldham, and even nearby Fulton County have either finalized resolutions or have taken the first steps to passage of right to work measures under provisions of county government’s ‘Home Rule.’
Last week, a right to work conference was held in Frankfort where Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President David Adkisson addressed legislators saying, “Among business people, right to work is an obvious step that Kentucky needs to make. It’s not a labor-bashing sentiment; it’s a matter of how friendly is a state to doing business.” Adkisson said he anticipates that 20 counties “in pretty short order” will adopt right-to-work ordinances in the coming weeks.
Kentucky is one of several states in the mid-west that has held off on passing the legislation. (see above graphic) Rather than waiting for legislators to pass right to work at the state level, several counties have aggressively moved toward passage of right to work resolutions at the local level and several others are now lining up to move in that direction – however the Marshall County Fiscal Court has decided to go in another.
This past Tuesday, the court passed a right to work resolution, however it varies greatly from ones passed in other counties and is the first of its kind in the state.
The resolution, dedicated to former County Judge Executive Mike Miller, was presented this week to the court by Bubba Dawes, a member of the state AFL-CIO COPE Committee and Chairman of the Marshall County Democratic Party.
Those who argue in favor of right to work say the law opens government up to new economic development opportunities and delivers growth and employment options and those on the opposing side, including Judge Miller, believe the law “undermines labor unions and lowers wages for Kentuckians.”
Right to work opponents say employees have fewer job protections and are not shielded against unfair terminations and believe that the law gives RTW employees in union businesses the same bargaining power as others without paying their fair share.
Unions have long opposed Right to Work. In fact, following passage of the resolutions in numerous Kentucky counties, nine unions, including chapters of the AFL-CIO and the United Food and Commercial Workers, have filed a federal lawsuit in an attempt to invalidate these county resolutions.
This week, the Marshall County Fiscal Court met to publicly state their stance against right to work, passing an anti Right to Work resolution which states:
Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller Memorial Anti-Right-to-Work Resolution
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller would strongly condemn current efforts by out-of-state forces to divide labor and management and county against county with the introduction of county right-to-work ordinances;
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller departed these earthly bounds on December 15, 2014, while faithfully performing his duties as Marshall County Judge/Executive, a position he held for 41 years, making him the longest-serving active County Judge/Executive in Kentucky; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller left behind his loving wife of forty- three and a half years, Chyrill, his sons, John Keith and Shawn Michael, two grandchildren, Isaac and Olivia; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller was a beloved public servant with statewide influence and served as president and,for many years, as a member of the Board of Directors of Kentucky Association of Counties, Purchase Area Development District and West Kentucky Allied Services; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller received many recognitions and awards including, Outstanding Citizen from the Woodmen of the World, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce,and most recently, a Certificate of Recognition from the Kentucky House of Representatives in honor of his four decades of public service; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller was an iconic figure in Western Kentucky and was known for his positive outlook, great sense of humor and dedication to the citizens of Marshall County; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller was known statewide as the emcee of many events in Western Kentucky, including the Marshall County Democratic Party Bean Supper prior to the Annual Fancy Farm Picnic and the Kentucky Labor-Management Conference; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller was a strong supporter of Kentucky’s hard-working men and women; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller was a driving force behind the creation of the annual Kentucky Labor—Management Conference which has been held for more than 25 years, and greeted workers, unions and management representatives from across Kentucky with his endearing personality and willingness to forge bonds of friendship with all who attended; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller always professed his belief in the support of organized labor and the collective bargaining process as a means of improving wages, working conditions and the quality of life for the people of Kentucky; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller believe in and worked at bringing people together to find common ground and solutions and strongly supported efforts that unite labor and management around their shared interests resulting in the creation of positive labor-management relations in workplace across Kentucky; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller recognized and rejected the concept and practice of right-to-work legislation and saw it as a means to undermine labor unions and lower wages for Kentucky’s hard-working men and women; and
Whereas, Marshall County Judge/Executive Mike Miller would strongly condemn current efforts by out-of-state forces to divide labor and management and county against county with the introduction of county right-to-work ordinances.
The resolution was passed unanimously by the court.