Breaking News: Arkansas in Top Third in the IWF Nat'l Report Card

Bill Smith, ARRA New Service Editor: We obtained an advance copy of the inaugural edition “2007 Index of Worker Freedom (IWF): A National Report Card” that will be released Thursday at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. by the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF).

The 2007 IWF is the first state-by-state comparative study that measures the level of worker freedom by analyzing policy as well as quantitative state data. With this inaugural edition, the AWF has taken the first step in providing a metric to use as a basis for time-series and trend analysis from this point forward.

Brian Johnson, AWF’s Director of Policy related that “With the recent political alignment between the Left and Big Labor unions, and the most recent invasions on worker freedom, it has become apparent that certain states are placing more emphasis on respecting workers rights than those which support controlled and regulated labor markets. This unique, first ever publication has never been more needed.”

Founded in 2004, the AWF is dedicated to the protection of workers rights, to combat anti-worker, pro-union legislation and educate the public about the plight to protect workers rights. AWF serves as an advocate using research, lobbying and education efforts to protect workers rights and to improve the right of ordinary workers. Grounded in free market labor economics and constitutional freedoms, AWF seeks to inform the public and national legislators about the benefits and perils of decisions concerning workers rights. AWF works to raise awareness of abuses by labor unions within the political system. AWF believes that free markets and free citizens are the best formula for workers and that ownership and individual self-determination are the hallmarks of pro-labor public policy.

The IWF National Report card identifed Arkansas with a grade of "B" which placed Arkansas in the top 19 states; 16 states received grades of "D" or "F." The report further addressed Arkansas as follows:

To improve on this grade in the future, Arkansas must increase its personal protection of public employees’ financial rights to become competitive in the region.

With a minimum wage of $6.25, Arkansas is above the Federal minimum wage of $5.85. A higher minimum wage hurts small business investment and increases unemployment in lower classes. Further, by not having paycheck protection laws, union bosses are free to spend members’ dues on any political cause of their choosing— regardless of the member’s personal preferences and/or beliefs. These laws are essential to not only securing worker freedom, but ensuring honest political representation.

Arkansas, by not offering a defined contribution pension plan, limits their employees’ freedom by offering non-portable and non-personally-controlled pensions. In addition, Arkansas law requires prevailing wage determination if the project exceeds $75,000. Virtually all major construction projects on state or federal roads and infrastructure exceed this amount. This prevailing wage hurts the average worker at the benefit of Big Labor.

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