Changes

The Louisiana legislature passed a [[Right-to-work laws|right-to-work law]] in the 1952 session at the urging of then Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]]. Gardner was a freshman member of the Louisiana House at the time and voted for right-to-work. In 1956, however, when Gardner was mayor, the legislature repealed the law at the urging of Governor Earl Long. Organized labor took the leading role in the repeal, a reflection of Bussie's growing influence in state politics. Indeed, Louisiana was clearly the most unionized state in the [[American South]].<ref>James C. Gardner, ''Jim Gardner and Shreveport'', Vol. I, pp. 353–354; https://books.google.com/books?id=5QVz3n8724IC&pg=PA394&lpg=PA394&dq=victor+bussie&source=web&ots=fzABhoouiJ&sig=bRECFObnzPZ0zJZJEIDdDmdDJe0&hl=en#PPA394,M1</ref> Bussie found that rural state legislators wanted farmers excluded from the repeal of right-to-work. Therefore, he endorsed one bill to repeal right-to-work and another to restore right-to-work for farmers. "We became the first and only state labor organization in the nation ever to sponsor a right-to-work law," Bussie said.<ref name=stimes/> The maneuvering caught the eye of former [[First Lady]] [[Eleanor Roosevelt]], who penned an editorial saying that Bussie should be expelled from the union for sponsoring the restoration of right-to-work for farmers.<ref name=stimes/>​

The Louisiana legislature passed a [[Right-to-work laws|right-to-work law]] in the 1952 session at the urging of then Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]]. Gardner was a freshman member of the Louisiana House at the time and voted for right-to-work. In 1956, however, when Gardner was mayor, the legislature repealed the law at the urging of Governor Earl Long. Organized labor took the leading role in the repeal, a reflection of Bussie's growing influence in state politics. Indeed, Louisiana was clearly the most unionized state in the [[American South]].<ref>James C. Gardner, ''Jim Gardner and Shreveport'', Vol. I, pp. 353–354; https://books.google.com/books?id=5QVz3n8724IC&pg=PA394&lpg=PA394&dq=victor+bussie&source=web&ots=fzABhoouiJ&sig=bRECFObnzPZ0zJZJEIDdDmdDJe0&hl=en#PPA394,M1</ref> Bussie found that rural state legislators wanted farmers excluded from the repeal of right-to-work. Therefore, he endorsed one bill to repeal right-to-work and another to restore right-to-work for farmers. "We became the first and only state labor organization in the nation ever to sponsor a right-to-work law," Bussie said.<ref name=stimes/> The maneuvering caught the eye of former [[First Lady]] [[Eleanor Roosevelt]], who penned an editorial saying that Bussie should be expelled from the union for sponsoring the restoration of right-to-work for farmers.<ref name=stimes/>​

In the 1976 legislative session, right-to-work was again passed by a nearly all Democratic body, a reflection of the growing presence of LABI, which sought to reverse what it claimed had been "[[socialism]]" in the heyday of Bussie's influence.<ref>[http://centrallapolitics.blogspot.com/2007/09/labi-says-that-cheap-labor-and-low-rent.html Central La. Politics: LABI Says That Cheap Labor And Low Rent Shacks Are Louisiana'S Economic Development Selling Points?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Bussie convinced state Senator Gaston Gerald of East Baton Rouge Parish, the chairman of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, to work against right-to-work. Gerald hence proposed a state constitutional amendment on the issue, which would have raised the legislative bar for passage and required voter approval.<ref>"Bussie maneuvering work bill's death," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 14, 1976, p. 1.</ref>​

In the 1976 legislative session, right-to-work was again passed by a nearly all Democratic body, a reflection of the growing presence of LABI, which sought to reverse what it claimed had been "[[socialism]]" in the heyday of Bussie's influence.<ref>[http://centrallapolitics.blogspot.com/2007/09/labi-says-that-cheap-labor-and-low-rent.html Central La. Politics: LABI Says That Cheap Labor And Low Rent Shacks Are Louisiana'S Economic Development Selling Points?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Bussie convinced state Senator Gaston Gerald of East Baton Rouge Parish, the chairman of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, to work against right-to-work. Gerald hence proposed a state constitutional amendment on the issue, which would have raised the legislative bar for passage and required voter approval.<ref>"Bussie maneuvering work bill's death," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 14, 1976, p. 1.</ref>

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Bussie thereafter never wavered in his call to repeal the Louisiana right-to-work law, which he caled the "right-to-work-for-less." Supporters of the measure, however, insist that it merely protects employees' freedom to refuse to pay compulsory "fees" to a union which they do not wish to join. Twenty-one other states, including all southern states, have such laws.<ref>http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0019-7939(199001)43%3A2%3C258%3AGPUBAL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E</ref>​

Bussie thereafter never wavered in his call to repeal the Louisiana right-to-work law, which he caled the "right-to-work-for-less." Supporters of the measure, however, insist that it merely protects employees' freedom to refuse to pay compulsory "fees" to a union which they do not wish to join. Twenty-one other states, including all southern states, have such laws.<ref>http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0019-7939(199001)43%3A2%3C258%3AGPUBAL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E</ref>​

 

Bussie claims that the effect of the law has been "to drive down wages, ... particularly in the construction industry." Data furnished by the [[United States Department of Labor]] and the Louisiana Department of Labor show that construction wages in the state have sharply increased relative to the national average since passage of right-to-work. In 1976, Louisiana construction hourly wages were 77 percent of the national average. By 2000, Louisiana construction wages had risen to 96 percent of the U.S. average.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.nrtwc.org/content_mail.php3?id=62 National Right to Work Committee<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

Bussie claims that the effect of the law has been "to drive down wages, ... particularly in the construction industry." Data furnished by the [[United States Department of Labor]] and the Louisiana Department of Labor show that construction wages in the state have sharply increased relative to the national average since passage of right-to-work. In 1976, Louisiana construction hourly wages were 77 percent of the national average. By 2000, Louisiana construction wages had risen to 96 percent of the U.S. average.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.nrtwc.org/content_mail.php3?id=62 National Right to Work Committee<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

 

Mark Mix, senior vice president of the National Right to Work Committee in Springfield, [[Virginia]], noted that the same trend is evident in manufacturing. U.S. Department of Labor data show that Louisiana manufacturing hourly wages has risen from 102 percent of the national average in 1976 to 108 percent in the 21st century. Because the cost of living in Louisiana has been traditionally lower than in other states, construction workers' real, disposable income rose for a time above the national average.<ref name=autogenerated1/>​

Mark Mix, senior vice president of the National Right to Work Committee in Springfield, [[Virginia]], noted that the same trend is evident in manufacturing. U.S. Department of Labor data show that Louisiana manufacturing hourly wages has risen from 102 percent of the national average in 1976 to 108 percent in the 21st century. Because the cost of living in Louisiana has been traditionally lower than in other states, construction workers' real, disposable income rose for a time above the national average.<ref name=autogenerated1/>​

 

Bussie said the decline of labor unions in Louisiana began in 1976, when the state Legislature narrowly approved right-to-work legislation that was pushed by [[Edward J. Steimel]], the founding executive director of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Bussie once called right-to-work “the most misnamed, deceitful, misleading piece of legislation ever introduced.” Bussie and unions argued that right-to-work was meant to weaken unions so businesses could lower wages. Right-to-work proponents said that the legislation was needed to keep unions from forcing employees to join and pay dues. The fight culminated with the 1976 passage of the legislation when nearly 15,000 union members protested outside the State Capitol.<ref name="test">[http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/31263899.html?showAll=y&c=y Baton Rouge news, sports and entertainment on The Advocate<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

Bussie said the decline of labor unions in Louisiana began in 1976, when the state Legislature narrowly approved right-to-work legislation that was pushed by [[Edward J. Steimel]], the founding executive director of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Bussie once called right-to-work “the most misnamed, deceitful, misleading piece of legislation ever introduced.” Bussie and unions argued that right-to-work was meant to weaken unions so businesses could lower wages. Right-to-work proponents said that the legislation was needed to keep unions from forcing employees to join and pay dues. The fight culminated with the 1976 passage of the legislation when nearly 15,000 union members protested outside the State Capitol.<ref name="test">[http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/31263899.html?showAll=y&c=y Baton Rouge news, sports and entertainment on The Advocate<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

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“That is when wages started going down in Louisiana,” Bussie said. “It was tough, very disappointing.”  Bussie said that prior to right-to-work, Louisiana had among the most skilled workers in the nation. Businesses liked the skill of workers, except for those companies that were just adamantly anti-union, he said.<ref name="test"/>​

“That is when wages started going down in Louisiana,” Bussie said. “It was tough, very disappointing.”  Bussie said that prior to right-to-work, Louisiana had among the most skilled workers in the nation. Businesses liked the skill of workers, except for those companies that were just adamantly anti-union, he said.<ref name="test"/>​

 

“It was one of the biggest fights in the Legislature of this past century,” Steimel said.  He still feels the legislation was needed then. But he said that corporations in Louisiana today are inadvertently inviting the return of stronger unions because workers get paid more in other states for the same jobs. "They’re abusing the power of right-to-work," Steimel said.<ref name="test"/>​

“It was one of the biggest fights in the Legislature of this past century,” Steimel said.  He still feels the legislation was needed then. But he said that corporations in Louisiana today are inadvertently inviting the return of stronger unions because workers get paid more in other states for the same jobs. "They’re abusing the power of right-to-work," Steimel said.<ref name="test"/>​