Indiana District 39 State Senator John Waterman (left) and Indiana District 46 State Representative Bob Heaton speak during the recent Owen County Legislative Breakfast. While both are Republicans in separate chambers, they have differing views of Wednesday’s passage of right-to-work legislation in Indiana. (SEW File Photo)

Indiana became the 23rd state to pass anti-union “right-to-work” legislation on Wednesday and the first in the nation’s manufacturing heartland, dealing what protestors say is a blow to organized labor by allowing workers to opt out of paying union dues.

Indiana’s Republican governor Mitch Daniels signed the legislation into law immediately after it was given final approval in the state Senate, making Indiana the first state to adopt such a measure since Oklahoma did so a decade ago.

The Indiana state Senate vote of 28 to 22 was followed by reported calls of “shame, shame” from members of the public outside the chamber. Opponents of right-towork call it “union busting” and say it will lower the wages of workers.

Returning from Indianapolis, Owen County lawmakers in the two chambers had differing opinions on the legislation, despite coming from the same side of the political aisle.

Among the Republicans in favor of the measure, Indiana District 46 State Representative Bob Heaton (Terre Haute) believes out of work Hoosiers will see an improvement in job opportunities in the future.

“I think it’s still going to be a great economic boom for Indiana. I’m hearing about companies looking at Indiana as a right-to-work state,” Heaton told the Spencer Evening World on Thursday. “Only time will tell, but I think it’s a really good thing for Indiana. As of now, it is the law, now we can just move forward.”

Of the nine Republicans voting against the measure in the Senate, District 39 State Senator John Waterman (R-Shelburn) was pessimistic of the state’s future in job growth with the new law in place.

“My concern is they come into the state with millions of dollars in campaigning during session and that’s never happened in the 16 years I’ve been in, attacking legislators like they did,” Waterman said. “It’s just another mechanism that’s going in place, ran outside the State of Indiana, funding big politicians who dance to their tune. I wish that we didn’t go down that path, but the leadership decided that’s what they wanted. The Governor sent a letter to the unions saying he wouldn’t support right-to-work, then they gave him several hundred thousand dollars for his last election. Now he’s looking at the national picture as a vice presidential candidate or one of the appointments, so I believe his focus is getting money for his next venture and using the State of Indiana to do it. That’s not right.”

 Waterman also worries about funding for Indiana’s trade schools, which have previously been funded through union dues.

“Our trade schools are the top in the nation; pipe fitters and iron workers, those are paid from union dues, not the state,” he said. “They’ve been pushing for several years now to partner with Ivy Tech and others, which is also tax dollars. I just don’t think that’s the way to go; the way our system is set up is one of the best in the nation, I’d like to leave them the way they are. I’ve been on the ground working in right-to-work states and the quality of workmanship is just not what it is here. I’ve always been proud about Indiana, the skill trades here are far better than any place I’ve ever been.”

Waterman recalled an instance in 1995 when 25,000 people crowded the Indiana Statehouse over lawmaker’s efforts to repeal Indiana’s Prevailing Wage Law.

“Last year was the first time Medicaid expenses surpassed edu- cation. This is going to throw more and more benefits out the window and put more people on state aid. That will raise taxes and force wages down while most people are living check to check,” he said. “At one factory in Terre Haute, wages went from 20 to 14 dollars an hour, so it’s all hitting hard and it’s just going to get worse. Most people’s expenses are based on their income level; there will be a lot of problems compounded as this thing rolls out.”

After his signing of the bill into law, effective July 1, 2012, Governor Daniels noted, “Seven years of evidence and experience ultimately demonstrated that Indiana did need a right-to-work law to capture jobs for which, despite our highly rated business climate, we are not currently being considered.”

The governor said that while the law is no magic answer to unemployment in the state, he believes Hoosiers will be better off with it in place.

“I respect those who have objected but they have alarmed themselves unnecessarily: no one’s wages will go down, no one’s benefits will be reduced, and the right to organize and bargain collectively is untouched and intact,” Daniels added. “The only change will be a positive one. Indiana will improve still further its recently earned reputation as one of America’s best places to do business, and we will see more jobs and opportunity for our young people and for all those looking for a better life.”

At the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, President Kevin Brinegar said that the passage of House Bill 1001 has further distinguished Indiana from neighboring states, giving companies another reason to bring businesses and jobs to the Hoosier State.

“This is the latest in a long line of actions to help make Indiana one of the most attractive climates for business relocations and expansions,” he said. “Hoosier workers also will have the choice now of whether or not to join a union. (False: Federal Court decision already ruled workers cannot be "forced" to join a union) People in Indiana and across the country recognize the critical importance of such a freedom of choice. Other state legislatures are seeing the value in trying to provide those choices and opportunities for individuals and companies.”