Delaware Democrats bury right-to-work legislation

Republican legislation aimed at increasing manufacturing employment failed in the state Senate Labor committee on Wednesday, with unions rallying against the measure.

The legislation would have allowed state officials to create right-to-work zones, where it would be illegal to require workers to join unions and pay dues as a condition of employment.

Supporters of the legislation hoped that making it more difficult for unions to organize on manufacturing sites would help persuade companies to set up factories in Delaware.

The state has lost more than 20,000 manufacturing jobs since 1990.

"Bottom line is this bill is an anti-union bill. It's to bust unions," James Maravelias, president of the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council, said during committee testimony. "We strongly oppose it."

Twenty-five states have passed right-to-work laws. In Delaware, Democrats who control Legislative Hall still count unions among their strongest supporters, and were not expected to allow the bill to reach the full Senate.

Delaware Sen. Greg Lavelle, a Sharpley Republican, sponsored the legislation. The measure would have allowed the Delaware Economic Development Office to create right-to-work zones as parts of economic incentive packages.

Manufacturers in the zones also would have seen gross receipts taxes set aside for five years.

"We can have philosophical disagreements. But Delaware really needs to start looking at how we do business," said Delaware Sen. Colin Bonini, a Dover Republican.

Testimony in the Senate Labor & Industrial Relations Committee lasted about an hour on Wednesday. Business groups called on lawmakers to support the legislation.

"While this may not be a panacea that all the sudden fixes the employment and wages situation we currently face in the state, this is a step in the right direction," said James DeChene, a lobbyist for the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce.

The legislation was not formally defeated in committee, but no members voted to release the legislation to the full Senate floor, effectively ending debate.

Delaware Sen. Robert Marshall, a Wilmington Democrat who chairs the Labor committee, indicated early in committee testimony that he opposed the legislation, saying unions "created the middle class."

"Any way we would diminish the strength and influence of unions would be a setback," Marshall said.

Contact Jonathan Starkey at (302) 983-6756, on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawareonline.com.