McConnell calls for vote on right-to-work measure

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) demanded Wednesday that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) allow a vote on a “right-to-work” measure.

McConnell said he offered the bill as an amendment to the unemployment insurance extension currently being considered by the Senate.

{mosads}“It would allow American workers to choose whether or not they’d like to join a union — and it would protect a worker from getting fired if she’d rather not subsidize a union boss who fails to represent her concerns and priorities,” McConnell said on the Senate floor. “It’s just such a common-sense, pro-worker proposal.”

Democrats are prepared to vote on several job-related issues, including a bill to ensure equal pay for women and a bill to raise the federal minimum wage.

McConnell said so far the discussion has been one-sided because Reid won’t allow Republicans to call up amendments, including his and Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) right-to-work measure.

“Many unions operate on a seniority system, with pay raises often based off the amount of time a worker has spent at a company, rather than on her performance,” McConnell said. “Well, I think an American worker deserves the opportunity to earn more money if she works hard — I think she deserves the opportunity to rise through the ranks and put more money in her pocket if she’s determined to do it. That’s real paycheck fairness.”

McConnell said Democrats wouldn’t allow a vote on his amendment because they are more concerned with “big labor bosses” than the middle class.