RIGHT-TO-WORK: Fact Sheet - 9/17/92 September 17, 1992 BILL CLINTON: PLEDGING TO REPEAL RIGHT-TO-WORK "[Clinton] has pledged to sign legislation to repeal Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act, which permits states to adopt right-to-work laws, `as soon as Congress puts it on his desk,' according to a statement by Clinton's campaign headquarters." -- From Clinton campaign statement reported in the BNA Daily Labor Report, July 13, 1992 o Clinton Backs Repeal of Right-to-Work: This May, in seeking the endorsement and the money of Big Labor, Clinton pledged to sign a repeal of Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act, which permits States to adopt right-to-work laws. o Evolution of a Flip-Flop -- Clinton Abandons Right-to-Work: For over a decade, as Governor of a right-to-work state, Clinton has never sought to repeal his state's right-to-work law. Similarly, until this year Clinton had not opposed Section 14(b), the federal statute that allows States to pass right-to-work laws. But, as a presidential candidate, Clinton has decided that the backing and money of Big Labor is more important than allowing States to pass right-to-work laws: -- During the New Hampshire primary, Clinton hinted that his position was beginning to change, saying: "I would not vote to put [right-to-work] in any place that doesn't have it because I think it sends the wrong signal," (Pine Bluff Commercial, 1/24/92). -- Four months later, while seeking the endorsement of Big Labor, the Clinton campaign issued a statement to the AFL-CIO saying that Clinton would sign a bill to repeal Section 14(b) "as soon as Congress puts it on his desk," (BNA Daily Labor Report, 5/6/92 and 7/13/92). o Who Stands to Lose: If Clinton is elected, and gets the chance to sign a repeal of right-to-work, the legislatures and workers in the following 21 states will lose the freedom to set limits on compulsory union membership: Alabama Kansas South Carolina Arizona Louisiana South Dakota Arkansas Mississippi Tennessee Georgia Nebraska Texas Florida Nevada Utah Idaho North Carolina Virginia Iowa North Dakota Wyoming # # #