A right-to-work bill Republicans have pushed for over the past year is dead, killed in committee by Senate Democrats Wednesday.
Several organized labor representatives staunchly opposed the measure, which called for designated areas where workers wouldn’t be forced to join a union as a condition of their employment.
James Maravelias, head of the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council, refuted suggestions that manufacturing jobs fled the state because of unions.
“You’re not going to blame the auto workers for leaving or the manufacturing of those plants on unions," said Maravelias. "Otherwise, Ford and GM and Chrystler wouldn’t be giving bonuses to the union workers in Michigan right now based on their production.”
Proponents pointed to failed attempts by the state to woo Volvo to the old Boxwood Road plant as a reason to increase Delaware’s toolbox of incentives.
Sponsor, Senate Minority Whip Greg Lavelle (R-Sharpley) says he was happy the bill got a hearing, unlike a similar measure last year, but that new incentives need to be offered to lure business to the state.
“The middle class in Delaware is hurting where we are, with the status quo and if we want to not do anything, the status quo is not going to improve,” said Lavelle.
A similar bill in the House would allow individual municipalities and counties in the state to establish right-to-work zones. It has yet to get a hearing.
