Homeless in Arizona

I dislike unions almost as much as I dislike government.

And the police unions are one of the main causes of the "war on drugs" which has turned America into the world's largest police state!!!!

And sadly the Democrats who are big fans of these unions thugs are also responsible for turning America into the worlds largest police state.

Commentary: When a town stands up to unions

Kristen McQueary Kristen McQueary Contact Reporter

Trustees in Lincolnshire, a small affluent suburb tucked along the Des Plaines River, voted this week to make their town a right-to-work zone — the first in Illinois.

The new ordinance allows employees of private companies to opt out of unionization and forced paying of union dues. When labor contracts expire, the employees will be able to make a choice on rejoining the union. Or not.

Think of the employee at a private nursing home who would rather pocket his dues money than forcibly give it to the union. Think of the driver for a delivery company who would rather cash her full paycheck than hand some of it over to the Teamsters.

And remember this: It's voluntary. Many employees will proudly stick with the union and continue paying dues. The difference is, it's their choice.

Unions obviously oppose right-to-work flexibility. They prefer the simpler route of mandatory dues-paying. They don't want to address the possibility of a shrinking membership base.

But this issue is more profound than the needs of labor unions. In jobs-starved areas of Illinois — the state with the worst economic recovery post-recession — communities should be courting every economic development tool available. That includes right-to-work zones. If the unions don't like it, they can oust local politicians at the next election. Surely they'll try.

The Lincolnshire proposal does not affect government workers. Village staff, public school teachers, police and firefighters are not included. It's a scalpel approach. It's an option Lincolnshire can offer when trying to attract employers or encourage existing businesses to expand rather than flee to nearby Wisconsin, which is a right-to-work state.

Lincolnshire took the first step. The next one: How do we scale it?

Private employee unions are not the mega-drain on taxpayers that public employee unions have become. Their costs and benefits aren't taxpayers' responsibility. They are the responsibility of the private employers. Big difference.

Additionally, towns that desperately need right-to-work ordinances are not likeLincolnshire, where 70 percent of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, 82 percent are homeowners and the median home value is $514,600. The ability of Lincolnshire to attract employers is stronger than it is for many towns.

The Illinois communities that most need right-to-work flexibility are the hollowed-out neighborhoods of Chicago, the jobs-starved south suburbs, the high-unemployment epicenter of Rockford and struggling manufacturing towns, such as Decatur. These are just some of the state's jobs deserts where a locally approved right-to-work zone would be most beneficial.

They're also communities ruled by labor-friendly Democrats who would rather watch neighborhoods disintegrate than challenge unions and experiment with economic development tools that have worked in other states. Communities that can't attract or keep employers — not with tax increment financing districts, or with tax incentives, or with rebates, or with whatever gimmick has been tested — should be leading on right-to-work zones. Visit Chicago's once-burgeoning manufacturing base on the Southeast Side and try to argue it isn't deserving of a right-to-work zone. Because the alternative, history has shown, is abandonment. Choose.

For too long, unions have dictated public policy in this state. They've told politicians what to approve or reject. No questions asked.

Lincolnshire asked questions. It is offering employees an option. A choice. Unions are free to make their case to workers that they should join the union. Why is that so scary?

"Our goal is not to bust unions," Lincolnshire Mayor Elizabeth Brandt says. "Want to join? No problem. Want to pay dues? No problem. But this (right-to-work zone) says, if you don't want to, you don't have to. That empowers the worker."

It's fascinating how unions talk about empowering workers, but don't want them to have the power to join or not.

The unions? They like mandates.

Lincolnshire likes freedom.

Kristen McQueary is a member of the Tribune Editorial Board.

kmcqueary@tribpub.com

Twitter @statehousechick