Worker Freedom Starts in the States: Alan Jernigan and Lee Schalk in Townhall
Worker freedom is not a partisan issue. It is an American issue. It helps people build lives, support their families, and contribute to their communities.
Alan Jernigan, ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Manager, and Lee Schalk, ALEC Senior Vice President of Policy, recently co-authored a Townhall op-ed about the release of States That Work: A Labor Policy Roadmap Across America, a publication outlining how states are protecting or restricting worker freedom through labor policies.
Ten years ago, a civil servant in Illinois named Mark Janus stood up for his rights. He filed a lawsuit in June 2015, objecting to being forced to pay dues to a union he didn’t support. That simple act of defiance reached the Supreme Court and changed the law of the land. In Janus v. AFSCME, the Court ruled that public employees cannot be compelled to fund union speech as a condition of their employment.
The decision was a victory for individual freedom. But a ruling from the Supreme Court is only the first step. The real test is how states respond – and some have done better than others.
That’s where the latest report from the American Legislative Exchange Council comes in. States That Work: A Labor Policy Roadmap Across America takes a serious look at how each state protects or restricts worker freedom. It’s a guide to where opportunity still exists and how state legislators can fix overregulation, union favoritism, and misguided labor policies.
The top five states – Arizona, Utah, Georgia, Arkansas, and Florida – have made smart, principled decisions to protect workers’ rights and limit government interference. From union issues and occupational licensing to worker privacy and the minimum wage, these states have made strides to enhance residents’ ability to find a job, grow in a career, and build a family.