The fight over Indiana's proposed “right-to-work” bill will take center stage Tuesday as House lawmakers get set to fire up more debate. Democrats are pushing for a referendum on the issue or they may walk out.
But do you know what right-to-work is and what it could mean?
WSBT's Fact Finder team has been hunting down some answers.
Right-to-work means a person cannot be forced to join a union, or forced to pay union dues or fees at their work place. As it stands now, people working in Indiana don't have to join a union if their company has one, but they still have to pay union dues. If the right-to-work bill passes, that would change, making it a Class A misdemeanor to require an individual to become a member of a labor organization and pay union dues.
WSBT randomly asked people what they knew about the proposed bill.
"It's where if there's a union shop and someone doesn't want to be in the union, they can still work there without being in the union," said Beth Reasonover of South Bend.
"It's some sort of government program to get people back to work, I guess," said Mike of Granger.
Supporters say it means more jobs, more business. Opponents say it means lower wages and fewer workers. A new Ball State study on the subject says both sides could be right and wrong.
"What we found was that there was no effect," Said Michael Hicks, director of Ball State's Center for Business and Economic Research. "It's true right-to-work states have more manufacturing growth and lower wages, but it's also true they have more sunshine and win more college football championships.”
Hicks says the economic success of a state can't be all tied to right-to-work laws – there are other factors, like whether a state has lower business taxes and looser environmental regulations.
"I think it's a far bigger strategic political issue than it is an economic issue," said Hicks.
An issue that is getting mixed reviews from potential voters WSBT talked to.
"I think people should have the option," said Reasonover.
And Mike isn't sure: "I have not been following it. We have a 3-month-old at home who takes up all of our time."
