HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnactment of Right to Work151
A Resolution
of the
City of Paducah
A RESOLUTION ADVOCATING THE ENACTMENT OF RIGHT TO WORK
LEGISLATION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY IN
ITS 2006 REGULAR SESSION
~'~ WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky does not protect its citizens from being
~~°' ~ compelled to join or financially support any organization as a condition of their employment through
what is commonly called a Right to Work law, similar to laws which are currently in force in 22 other
states, and
WHEREAS, the principles of economic opportunity and personal freedom necessitate
enactment of Right to Work legislation in Kentucky, and
WHEREAS, Kentucky ranked 45~' in the United States in per capita personal income
($27,151) in 2004 with average incomes-$5,890 (or 18%) lower than the national average (Bureau of
Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce), a ranking unchanged since 1994, while the
neighboring or competitor states of Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina (all Right to Work states)
ranked ahead of Kentucky in both per capita personal income and average annual pay, and
WHEREAS, real personal income (income factored against the cost of living) from 1993
to 2003 increased in Right to Work states by 37% compared to 28% in Kentucky and 26% in non-Right to
Work states (Bureau of Economic Analysis), while from 1992 to 2002 population between the ages of 25
and 34 increased 2% in Right to Work states and plunged 10.2% in non-Right to Work states (U.S.
Census Bureau), and
WHEREAS, businesses are increasingly considering Right to Work as a key competitive
criterion when considering sites for new growth and investment, with 69.5% of business executives
specifying Right to Work a very important or important factor in site selection in Area Development
magazine's 2004 Annual Corporate Survey, such that the percentage growth in manufacturing
establishments over the past ten years increased in Right to Work states while decreasing in non-Right to
Work states, and
WHEREAS, a statewide poll of 500 Kentucky voters conducted January 9-10, 2005, by
,.~-~..
l/ ~ Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, Virginia, confirms overwhelming support for Right to Work
legislation in Kentucky, with 74% supporting a law that gives workers the right to decide for themselves
whether or not to join or financially support a union while 31% considered job creation and new business
recruitment the top priority for Kentucky's legislative leaders.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF PADUCAH:
SECTION 1. The City of Paducah strongly advocates enactment of Right to Work
legislation by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in its 2006 Regular Session.
SECTION 2. The City of Paducah specifically urges enactment of BR 199, which has
been pre-filed by State Representative Stan Lee for consideration in the 2006 Regular Session of the
General Assembly or, alternatively, any similarly-drafted legislation that shall guarantee to citizens of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky that membership in or financial support of any organization shall not be
arbitrarily imposed as a condition of their employment.
%°"~' ATTEST:
~ )
~_
Tammara S. Brock, City Clerk
Adopted by the Board of Commissioners December 13, 2005
Recorded by Tammara S. Brock, City Clerk, December 13, 2005
~resol~Right To Work