Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/830466
22 WHAT CAN WE DO? A short-term strategy proven successful is to directly con- tact your congressmen and congresswomen. California holds fi fty-three seats in the House of Representatives. You can visit house.gov to obtain your representative's detailed contact information. Should H.R.785 pass in the House, California senators Dianne Feinstein & Kamala Harris can be reached through senate.gov. Simply calling and leaving a voice-mail stating your concern can have a direct impact. The rate of workplace fatalities is 49 percent higher in right-to-work states. Infant mortality is increased by 12.4 percent and educa- tional spending per pupil is 32 percent lower than in states that harbor strong unions. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE NEW BILL? The bill was introduced to Congress on February 1, 2017. H.R.785 has since been referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. It has since gained twenty- two Republican co-sponsors. To view the most current de- tails and actions on H.R.785, please visit congress.gov The burden of asking an employer for such basic needs is thereby lifted from the individual. Unions set a fair bottom line for everyone in the form of a contract. California productions operate under a closed-shop con- tract. Our IA union security clause ensures only vetted members in good standing are eligible to work on proj- ects under contract. It is a mutually benefi cial system that ensures a level of job security and benefi ts to employees, while providing employers with a well-trained & highly skilled workforce. To declare a union membership optional is a predatory strategy to fi nancially weaken the bargaining power of the entire workforce. WHAT'S THE FISCAL IMPACT OF RIGHT-TO- WORK? Since 1947, twenty-eight states have adopted right-to- work laws, including Kentucky joining in 2017. Over the past fi ve decades, US Census reports have shown signifi - cant economic disparities between union-secured and right-to-work states. The American Federation of Labor [AFL-CIO] lists an average wage decrease of 13.9 percent in a median household income ($50,712 to $58,886 per year). This translates into an average loss of $8,147 annu- ally per household. Right-to-Work states shown in turquoise. CC BY-SA 3.0 Right to Work States.svg