US workplace mortality research adds grist to the union mill

摘要

Anti-trade union laws in the US have led to an increase of almost 15% in occupational mortality, according to research from Harvard University. The research, which was carried out by Michael Zoorob from Harvard's Department of Government, looked at the effect of "right to work" laws. To date, 27 US states have adopted such laws, which prohibit agreements between employers and unions forcing non-union workers to pay union dues or fees where they benefit from a collective agreement negotiated by the union. The agreements stopped "free-loaders" benefiting from union activities funded by their unionised colleagues.