LEAP Issues

Tithi Bhattacharya, an associate professor of South Asian History at Purdue University and a protester who is taking part in Occupy the Super Bowl, discusses the protest and the opposition to Indiana’s so-called “right-to-work” law.

THOUSANDS OF UNION members, including Boilermakers, rally outside the Indiana statehouse in Indianapolis against right to work as the state Senate votes 28-22 to pass the legislation today. Gov. Mitch Daniels is expected to sign the bill into law, making Indiana the 23rd state in the nation with “right to work for less” on the books.

Democratic leader says RTW “doesn’t put Hoosiers back to work.”

IN A FIERY written statement broadcast via e-mail Jan. 25, Indiana State House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer unloaded on Republican House members who helped pass a “right to work for less” bill. If House Bill 1001 becomes law, Indiana will become the 23rd right to work state.

Bauer, the House Democratic leader from District 6, has been an outspoken critic of right to work and has led the statehouse charge against it for the last two legislative sessions.

LOCAL 1620 (PORTLAND, IND.) President Bill Coleman, l., and Sec.-Treas. Mike Landess stand near the Indiana statehouse, where unions and their supporters are rallying against state Republican lawmakers who have vowed to push through "right to work for less" legislation. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has stated publicly that he will sign the legislation if it reaches his desk. Democrats plan to offer an amendment to let voters decide the measure, rather than politicians.

Obstructionists in Congress howl as president runs ‘end-around’

FRUSTRATED BY SENATE obstructionists who have vowed to block future presidential nominations, Barack Obama side-stepped opposing lawmakers by making four recess appointments January 4. The move infuriated Republicans while delighting labor unions and consumer groups.

​Obama named three people to serve on the National Labor Relations Board. Two are Democrats: Deputy Labor Secretary Sharon Block and labor attorney Richard Griffin. The other nominee, NLRB counsel Terrence Flynn, is a Republican.

Move comes as unions protest “right to work” legislation

GOVERNOR MITCH DANIELS has backed away from a plan to restrict public access to the Indiana statehouse after coming under fire from Democrats and unions. The restriction would have limited to 3,000 the number of people who could be inside the statehouse at the same time (including 1,700 state employees). It was seen as a defensive move in anticipation of large-scale protests against so-called “right to work” legislation that state GOP leaders are attempting to pass.

House upholds governor’s veto by 12 votes

THE STATE OF New Hampshire narrowly defeated so-called “right-to-work” legislation Nov. 30 when the state House failed to override Democratic Gov. John Lynch’s veto. The vote was 240-139 — 12 short of the two-thirds majority needed. The override was expected to pass in the 24-member state Senate, but it never got that far. Republicans dominate the 400-member state House by almost three to one and the state Senate by 19-5.

Republicans use Boeing-Machinists dispute to undermine worker rights