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Massachusetts Question 5, Right-to-Work Law Initiative (1948)
| Massachusetts Question 5 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Right-to-work laws |
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| Status |
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| Type Indirect initiated state statute |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 5 was on the ballot as an indirect initiated state statute in Massachusetts on November 2, 1948. It was defeated.
A “yes” vote supported prohibiting membership or non-membership to a labor organization as a condition of employment. |
A “no” vote opposed prohibiting membership or non-membership to a labor organization as a condition of employment. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 5 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 505,575 | 28.15% | ||
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1,290,310 | 71.85% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 5 was as follows:
| “ | Do you approve of a law summarized below which was disapproved in the House of Representatives by a vote of 5 in the affirmative and 203 in the negative and in the Senate by a vote of 0 in the affirmative and 36 in the negative? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ | This measure prohibits the denial of the opportunity to obtain or retain employment because of membership or non-membership in a labor organization and prohibits agreements which exclude any person from employment because of membership or non-membership in a labor organization. Violation of the provisions of the measure is made an offense punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. | ” |
Path to the ballot
Before 1952, citizen-initiated ballot measures in Massachusetts required a fixed number of signatures. In 1950, voters approved a constitutional amendment changing this to a percentage-based system, tying the number of required signatures to ballots cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. Before 1952, the signature requirement for indirect initiated state statutes was 20,000, with an additional 5,000 if the Legislature rejected the proposal and proponents wanted it placed on the ballot.
See also
External links
- William Francis Galvin Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Statewide Ballot Measures: 1919-Present"
- Athol Daily News, "LEGAL NOTICE," October 25, 1948
Footnotes
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State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
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