Beech Tree News Network

The courtroom at the Butler County Courthouse was packed with union workers on Monday night as Butler County Fiscal Court once again addressed passing a Right to Work ordinance.  After much discussion, magistrates voted 4-1 to approve the first reading of the ordinance for Butler County. Fourth District Magistrate David Whittinghill was the lone nay vote.

According to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a Right to Work law guarantees that no person can be compelled, as a condition of employment, to join or not to join, nor to pay dues to a labor union.  A total of 24 states have passed Right to Work legislation.  Although Kentucky hasn't passed Right to Work legislation statewide, individual counties in state., beginning with Warren County, have been passing Right to Work laws for their county.  Those laws are now being challenged in court. 
Second District Magistrate Johnny Tuck made the motion and Third District Magistrate Chad Tyree provided the second to approve the first reading of the Right to Work ordinance.  This motion started a lengthy discuss concerning the ordinance. 

Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan addressed the court, asking them to table the motion to approve the first reading of the Right to Work ordinance.
“I represent over 500 people in Butler County and these men and women behind me work for a living,” said Londrigan in his opening remarks. "People need to understand the promise of jobs never happen.  They (people that support Right to Work) don’t have the facts to back up their claims.”
“Let the federal government decide this issue and avoid the possibility of ligation against the county,” said Londrigan.
According to Londrigan, Right to Work law is usually way down the list of priorities for companies considering locations.
“The real results in Right to Work states is lower wages, higher poverty, and a lower tax base,” said Londrigan. "Right to Work laws undercut collective bargaining by allowing workers to have the benefits of the union without paying fees to cover the services.”
“No one is forced to be in a union, it is illegal, and has been since 1965,” added Londgrigan.
In closing, Londgrigan stated that Right to Work is a false promise.

Union member Jerry Tines, of Morgantown, asked the judge and magistrates, “I’d like for one of you tell me what the Right to Work stands for, let me know you understand it before you vote for it?”
That question was not answered by the court.

Timothy Gilliam, of Protect My Check, an organization promising to pay legal fees for any county passing Right to Work legislation, spoke in favor of the Right to Work ordinance citing that 80 percent of the public supports Right to Work along with U.S. Senators Mitchell McConnell and Rand Paul.
“I commend you for having this on the agenda,” said Gilliam.
According to Gilliam, Indiana and Warren County both have experienced increased economic interest since passing Right to Work.
“Right to work does not cover public sector employees and it does not eliminate collective bargaining rights,” said Gilliam.
Magistrate David Whittinghill asked, “Why are we jumping into this?
 “We are part of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and people that represent our economic development,  along with State Rep. Jim DeCesare have encouraged us to support Right to Work,” answered Judge Fields. 

Whittinghill made a motion to table the motion pending the outcome of the Hardin County lawsuit concerning the legality of counties passing Right to Work ordinances. First District magistrate Stevie Givens seconded the motion. Judge Fields called for a roll call vote. Whittinghill and Givens voted to table the motion, with Tyree, Tuck, and Bobby Moore voting no.  The motion failed by a 3-2 vote.

The court then went back to the original motion approving the first reading of the Right to Work ordinance.  Again a roll call vote was taken. Tyree, Tuck, Moore and Givens voted yes; Whittinghill voted no. The first reading of the Right to Work ordinance passed the court by a 4-1 vote.

Later in the meeting the court approved a payment of $10 to Yessin Associates for defense of the Right to Work ordinance.

The second reading of the Right to Work ordinance has been scheduled for February 23, 2015 in a called meeting at 5:00 p.m. at the Butler County Courthouse.