Z Magazine - Mississippi’s SB 2988

Z Magazine - Mississippi’s SB 2988


Mississippi is at the lower end of almost every thing, but they try....sarcasm intended.

SunHerald.com : Gulfport job outlook 8th-best in nation

SunHerald.com : Gulfport job outlook 8th-best in nation


This is good news to the local economy, but the down side is that MS is a right to work state and NO one will become wealthy working for the low wages of MS.

Guest Workers Get The Shaft

Indian shipyard workers accuse their employer of human trafficking and forced labor : NOLA Indymedia


These workers were used and abused. They were treated like 2nd class citizens and have taken to the picket line. Unfortunately, Mississippi is a right to work state and their concerns will most likely fall on deaf ears.

I support their efforts and will do anything that will help them get the justice they deserve.

HR13/HC9--Less Than Honorable Death

HR13--Worker's bill Of Rights--a bill that would have guaranteed certain rights to workers like guaranteed safety standards, the right to organize, etc has died in committee...a less than hinorable death for a bill that could have been ground breaking for Mississippi.

HC9--Worker's Memorial Day--28 April, for the observation of workers that have died on the job and to help bring attention to workplace safety--died in committee.

I was hoping that Mississippi would wake up and join the 21st century, I was mistaken. It will always be a right to work state where the workers are nothing more than a tool to be used til broke and by a new one.

Mississippi And The Right To Work

I live in the glorious state of Mississippi, where unions are frowned upon thus making the state attractive to greedy corporations that are looking for workers that they do not have to pay going wages. I have been a union organizer in the state and it is a tough nut to crack. Workers are not protected by law from employers that do not let the workers to decide their future.

Here are a few things about the so-called right-to-work policies of most Southern states.

Right-to-Work laws inhibit the right to organize.

Right-to-Work laws do not guarantee any rights. Right-to-Work statutes prohibit employers and unions from voluntarily negotiating a union security agreement. A union security agreement requires employees who benefit from the union’s representation to pay dues that cover the costs of union negotiations, contract administration, and other union-provided job services.

Right-to-Work laws are designed to financially cripple the union movement.

Federal law requires unions to represent nonmembers. For example, if a nonunion worker is fired illegally, the union must finance the expensive legal proceedings to defend him or her. Right-to-Work laws allow workers to enjoy a union’s services without paying dues. Not only does this discourage workers from joining the union, but it undermines worker solidarity.

Right-to-Work laws decrease wages for everyone.

Because workers’ organizing rights are diminished in states with Right-to-Work laws, an average worker earns about $7,131 a year less than workers in free bargaining states ($30,656 versus $37,787).1 Across the nation, union members earn $9,308 a year more than nonunion members ($41,652 versus $32,344).2 Clearly these laws only provide a right to work for less.

Right-to-Work laws especially harm people of color.

People of color generally benefit the most from union membership. On average, Hispanic union members earn 50 percent ($224) more each week than nonunion Hispanics, and African Americans earn 31 percent ($156) more each week if they are union members.3

Right-to-Work states have more poverty, higher infant mortality rates and poorer schools.

Right-to-Work states have a poverty rate of 13.5 percent, compared with 12.2 percent in free bargaining states. The infant mortality rate is 7.94 percent higher and the uninsured population rate is 15 percent higher on average in Right-to-Work states. And Right-to-Work states spend on average $1,680 less per pupil in elementary and secondary school. The lack of spending results in lower teacher salaries and student test scores—average teacher salaries are $6,943 lower and composite ACT scores are 3.55 percent lower in Right-to-Work states.

Just a few of the benefits for the corporations and the bane of the workers in the state of Mississippi.

Barbour's Tax Study Proposal

Barbour said state and federal taxes, as well as local taxes, figure into the discussion, and commission members would remember that as they work on the code.

"We have to keep that in mind as we work to have a system that is fair to all Mississippians, generates the amount of money we need to run our state government and is pro-job creation and pro-economic growth," Barbour said.

Barbour promised on the campaign trail last year he'd look into tax changes. It was his answer to criticism about his vetoing - twice - a bill that would have cut grocery taxes and raised cigarette taxes.

Barbour's political opponents, primarily the House Democratic leadership, has said he would likely champion pro-business tax breaks rather than those to help lower-income Mississippians. They said the state's taxes are already considered "regressive" toward those of modest means.

These proposals have almost always favored business over Mississippians and now the people are told that this one is different, that it will take into consideration of growth with jobs. This is bovine fecal matter. It will be about tax cuts to attract more corporations to the state. BTW, tax cuts creates few jobs and the ones that are lucky enough to have one it will be a short lived job.

I jus hope Mississippians have finally opened their eyes to lies and misdirections, but I am probably just having wishful thoughts.

More Jobs For Mississippi

Recently it was announced that the military's new jet tanker, the KC-45, will be finished on the Coast. But will it bring more jobs? It will bring more needed cash to the city, county and state. But what will it do for the working conditions of the people?

Mississippi is a right to work state and that probably played a major role in the decision to bring the final construction of the plane to the Coast. I am sure that some flowering statement about the Coast will be issued and passed onto the media. And the media will do its part to hype the BS.

Money will be made off this endeavor. But unfortunately, it will not improve the working conditions of the people, just make more money for those with all the money anyway.