Del. leaders weigh in on “Right To Work” bill
The “Right To Work” bill has been reintroduced for the second year.
The bill killed last year now has the support of 15 Delaware Republicans which is a concern itself, for Sussex County democratic committee chairman Mitch Crane.
“Any bill filed in Delaware that does not have a single democrat on it, it’s designed to look good in a newspaper or on television. It’s not really there to help anybody.” Says Crane.
The bill calls for companies in right to work zones with at least 20 newly hired employees to be exempt from gross receipt taxes for five years.
Gross receipt taxes are taxes the total gross revenues of a Delaware business. Depending on the business activity, range from .1006% to .7543% in the state of Delaware.
The bill demands also employees to not be forced to pay to be a part of manufacturing unions. Crane says this move could potentially stop unions overall.
“If we can continue to create an environment where unions are being stopped and companies are able to pay people less than a livable wage, we will continue to destroy our middle class and that does not help any of us.” Explains Crane.
Sussex County councilman republican George Cole, representing District 4, says the measure could actually stimulate more jobs, by making the first state more welcoming attracting more businesses and workers.
“This should encourage people to come to Sussex County, come to Delaware, start businesses and if they get through a right to work zone, they’re not going to be impacted by unions. Doesn’t mean they can’t join a union.” Says Cole.
Cole did not whether he believed the move would potentially destroy unions.
“I’m not too worried about the union whether they get depleted or not. What I am more concerned about is our economic development in Sussex county and the state. This will help.” He says.
There are currently 25 right-to-work states. Wisconsin signed their bill into law in March.
This particular bill has been assigned to the Delaware Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee.
