In a recent letter to the editor (March 20), Arthur Gagne cited facts regarding Right to Work; however, he offers no facts regarding the proposed law.

According to a recent Bureau of Labor Education study for the University of Maine, states that became right-to-work states tended to experience slower growth after adopting right-to-work legislation. The facts are that among free bargaining states, the median household income for 2009 ($52,513) was 13.4 percent higher than in right-to-work states ($46,328). Similarly, median weekly earnings and annual pay were higher in non right-to-work states that in right-to-work states.

If the right-to-work law is passed, it could encourage employers to offer even lower wages and fewer benefits. The facts are that half of all right-to-work states have poverty-level rates higher than 15 percent.

Labor unions brought America the 40-hour workweek, the weekend, a safe working environment through establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a decent living wage, health care, and equality between genders and among ethnic backgrounds.

Unions fight not only for the dues-paying members, but for all working people.

Gagne mentions the company that he works for got rid of the union. But every week he and other Mainers take home a decent wage with some level of benefits because of the union brothers and sisters before him and the sacrifices they made.

Is it such a bad thing to make a livable wage with benefits and a promise of comfortable retirement?

Most Mainers think not.

Patrick Carleton, Chesterville