FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chris Sanchez

505-573-3165
Jan. 29, 2015
Right To Work Passes Out Of Business And Employment Committee With Bi-Partisan Support
Legislation Will Now Move To Judiciary Committee
Santa Fe, NM Right-to-work legislation, which would give New Mexico's workers the right to choose
whether they join a union or financially contribute to one, has passed the House Committee on Business
and Employment. It will now move to the Judiciary Committee. The vote was a bi-partisan 8-5 vote.
"By moving this legislation forward, we are one step closer to giving New Mexico's workers the right to
choose whether they join a union or financially contribute to one," said Rep. Dennis Roch, who is
sponsoring the legislation. "You should have every right to join a union if that is what you choose. But
you should never be forced to join an organization against your own will."
In addition to giving workers the freedom to choose whether they join a union or financially contribute to
one, the legislation would also make New Mexicos business climate more competitive. States with
similar protections are doing better than states without them. According to the Bureau of Economic
Analysis, right-to-work states saw a 43 percent gain in total employment between 1990 and 2011. States
without the protection gained just about 19 percent.
One study found that had New Mexico become a right-to-work state in 1980, employment would have
been around 21 percent higher in 2011.
Protecting workers from having to join a union or financially contribute to one against their will has
bipartisan support nationally. A Gallup poll taken in August found that 71 percent of Americans support
right-to-work laws. The support crosses party lines, with 65 percent of Democrats and 77 percent of
Independents supporting the protections.
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