1.  Define the following words used in the article:

• mandatory
• public sector union
• private sector union
• "right to work" laws
• "closed shop" state
• collective bargaining

2.  a) List at least 3 types of jobs people have who are in private sector unions.
b)  List at least 3 types of jobs people have who are in public sector unions.

3.  Why are unions opposed to right-to-work laws?

4.  How could weakening the power of the unions, by giving employees the option to join (and pay dues) or not, hurt the Democratic Party?

5.  a) What are teamsters?
b)  Who did teamsters union president Jim Hoffa blame for initiating the right-to-work law in Michigan?

6.  What warning did Democratic state Representative Douglas Geiss give against passing a right-to-work law in Michigan?

7.  Generally, politicians try to enact laws that the people who voted for them support.  This is such a controversial issue, with union members very angry over the passage of a law that would allow employees to opt out of the union.  Do you think if the majority of the Republican lawmakers' constituents opposed right-to-work laws, they would still push to pass this legislation?

8.  Are union members being naive in blaming "billionaires" and "wealthy Republican business owners" for pushing for a right-to-work law?  Michigan is known as a strong union state, and a Democratic state.  However, in the most recent election Republicans won the governorship and a majority in both houses of the state legislature.  Do you think any average workers support an employees' right to choose whether to join a union and pay dues (for some close to $1,000 per year)? Explain your answer.

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:  
Ask 3-5 people you know who work full-time whether their business is unionized. Ask at least one parent.
If their business is unionized, do they support the passage of a right-to-work law? Why or why not?
For those who work in non-union jobs, do they support the right of the union to have a closed shop state? Ask them to explain their answers.
If you attend a public or private school, also ask at least 2 teachers if they support right-to-work laws, and to explain their answers.