Kentucky
KY workers struggle in weakened unions while execs cash in | Opinion
House Bill 585 is about making sure Kentucky works for the people who do the work, not just those at the top.
Rep. Morgan McGarvey speaks at ‘It’s Better in a Union’ AFL-CIO tour
US Rep. Morgan McGarvey spoke at the ‘It’s Better in a Union’ AFL-CIO bus tour in Louisville on July 26.
“Right-to-work” isn’t working in Kentucky.
Kentuckians are struggling to keep up with rising costs and it’s not hard to see. Workers’ wages are not keeping up with basic needs, such as housing, groceries, health care and childcare. Some people need multiple jobs just to feed their families. While hardworking Kentuckians struggle, the wealthy and well-connected continue to receive tax breaks and special treatment from politicians in Frankfort and Washington.
This didn’t happen by accident. This was by design.
In 2017, we saw a dramatic shift against working families. The first order of business for the new Republican majority in the Kentucky House was passing so-called “right-to-work” legislation, House Bill 1. This legislation weakened unions and led to lower pay for workers. Nearly a decade has passed, and workers are not thriving in Kentucky like they said they would.
Kentuckians want support for workers
Big business has virtually no limits on their influence in Frankfort. They spend exceedingly large amounts of money on lobbying the Kentucky supermajority to shape laws to further enrich themselves. When workers try to organize, demand fair wages, safe workplaces and decent benefits, big business uses the profits they’ve gathered off the backs of working people to directly advocate against them.
Some wealthy business interests claim “right-to-work” has contributed to the state’s economic growth over the past several years, but whose growth is it, really? The fact of the matter is corporate profits are soaring and executives are cashing in, while families are left scraping by.
It’s true Kentucky has seen record-breaking economic momentum under the leadership of Gov. Andy Beshear, including $43 billion in private sector investments and over 63,000 new jobs. However, Beshear agrees Kentucky can attract businesses and investment without simultaneously suppressing unions.
A recent statewide poll conducted by KyPolicy found that 85% of Kentucky voters want the state legislature to prioritize raising worker pay and improving worker benefits. This poll also found that 60% of Kentuckians support making it easier for workers to join or form a union.
Kentuckians are telling us they want us to focus on supporting workers, and our colleagues in the General Assembly should listen.
A fight worth having
Bad faith politicians in Frankfort will tell you we have a worker shortage. They pin the problem on Kentuckians not willing to work, and absolve big business from any accountability. But in reality, we have a wage problem. Repealing “right-to-work” is a necessary step toward fixing that imbalance.
That’s why we have introduced House Bill 585, legislation to repeal Kentucky’s “right-to-work” law and restore Kentucky’s ability to have strong unions fighting for workers’ rights. House Bill 585 is about making sure Kentucky works for the people who do the work, not just those at the top.
Across the country, states with stronger unions have higher wages, better benefits and safer workplaces. Union workers earn more, are more likely to have health insurance and retirement security and are better protected on the job. When unions are strong, workers are strong.
This is a fight worth having. It’s a fight working people are ready for, and it’s a fight we cannot afford to keep putting off.
Standing together is how workers have always won dignity, fairness and opportunity. This is how Kentucky can build a stronger future for everyone.
Working Kentuckians deserve better.
Rep. Chad Aull represents Kentucky’s 79th House District in Lexington
Rep. Adrielle Camuel represents Kentucky’s 93rd House District in Lexington
Kentucky
Kentucky State Police accepting applications for Cadet Class 108; application deadline Oct. 15
Four people have died due to flooding from thunderstorms in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said Saturday, and he issued a state of emergency with additional rainfall expected.
Flash flood warnings were in effect Saturday for parts of Kentucky and Indiana amid heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency late Saturday afternoon said between 4 and 10 inches of rain had already fallen in some parts of southwestern Indiana, with more possible.
Beshear’s office said up to 7 inches of rain were expected in parts of his state through the late evening.
He said on social media that three people had died in Madison County and one in Jackson County due to flooding.
“This is a serious flooding event, where teams have already had to conduct multiple water rescues from vehicles and homes across the commonwealth,” he said in a statement. “As more heavy rain continues through late tonight, we need folks to remain alert and to avoid driving, especially after dark when there is limited visibility.”
Beshear said there were “significant roads underwater” in Madison County, with search and rescue teams sent to that region. He also said at least 12 state roads were “out of commission” because they were flooded.
In northwestern Kentucky, just outside Louisville, Bullitt County emergency management officials asked residents of a rural road to evacuate as a precaution after a landslide at a dam embankment. The dam was holding and there was no indication of imminent failure, they said.
The area saw about 3 inches of rain in the past two days, according to the National Weather Service.
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