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Minnesota "Right to Work" Amendment (2012)
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Minnesota Freedom of Employment Amendment, also known as the "Right to Work" Amendment, did not appear on the November 2012 ballot in Minnesota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment.
The measure proposed making mandatory union membership or payment of union dues prohibited.
Text of measure
The ballot language of the measure would have read as follows:[1]
Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to guarantee all citizens the individual freedom to decide to join or not join a labor union; to remain with or leave a labor union; or to pay or not pay dues, fees, assessments, or other charges of any kind to a labor union or any affiliated third party or charity, without having it affect their employment status?
- YES
- NO
Constitutional changes
The proposed amendment would add a section to Article I of the Minnesota Constitution[2]
Support
The measure was sponsored by State Rep. Steve Drazkowski and Sen. Dave Thompson.[3] In a joint press release they said, "If Minnesotans vote in favor of this amendment, every Minnesota worker would still have the right to join or support a labor union, only now it would be his or her own decision. Union employees would still be able to collectively bargain the same as under current law."[4][5]
Opposition
- State Rep. Morrie Lanning stated her thoughts on the measure: "I’m opposed. I just don’t think we ought to be pursuing that at this point in time."[6]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Minnesota Constitution
In order to refer proposed amendments to the ballot they must be agreed on by a majority of the members of each chamber of the Minnesota State Legislature.
- On Monday, March 12, 2012, the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee passed the bill on to the Senate Rules and Administration Committee by a vote of seven to six.[7] The 2012 legislative session ended before the measure was passed on to the ballot.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota Legislature, "House File 65 (2011)" (Lines 2.4-2.10)
- ↑ Minnesota Legislature, "House File 65 (2011)" (Line 1.2 to 1.3)
- ↑ Star Tribune, "State Republicans launch right-to-work amendment drive," February 2, 2012
- ↑ Minnesota State Legislature, "Senator Dave Thompson, Representative Steve Drazkowski annouce employee freedom constitutional amendment," February 2, 2012
- ↑ TPM, "Minnesota GOP Legislators Eye ‘Right-To-Work’ Constitutional Amendment," February 2, 2012
- ↑ Grand Forks Herald, "Ballot may see right-to-work law in Minnesota," February 1, 2012
- ↑ Minnesota Public Radio, "Right-to-work bill passes Minn. Senate panel," March 12, 2012
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State of Minnesota St. Paul (capital) |
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