What Business Leaders Told Legislators about Right to Work Vote

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Sherman McCorkle, CEO of Technology Ventures Corp.:
“I do believe right to work will improve job creation. What we have done over the last several decades has not worked. What we have done does not create jobs we want or the economy we want to have. A free person in 2015 should be able to live where they want to live, go to school where they want to go to school and work where they want to work without a compulsory payment to somebody. Right to work is about freedom.”
Paul Gessing, president, Rio Grande Foundation:
“It is not anti-union. It can be good for unions. It’s true, right to work is not a cure-all, but it is true that some businesses looking to relocate look at right to work.”
Carlo Lucero, CEO of Sparkle Maintenance:
“I have over 400 full-time employees, and over 80 percent are at or near minimum wage. Some say we’re not creating the kinds of jobs we want [in New Mexico]. I take offense. All people need jobs at all stages of life and careers, and if [right to work] creates jobs, I’m for it.”
Terri Cole, CEO of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce:
“For us, this about choice. We also believe we need as many choices, so we are at the table instead of left out of the table.”
Justin Najaka, Director of New Mexico State Personnel Office:
“The S.P.O. receives numbers of complaints every year about this. S.P.O. is not against unions, we have a labor relations bureau that works well with unions, but we support choice.”
Shirley Anderson, business development manager, Klinger Constructors LLC:
“We are a merit shop, and 94 percent of the contractors in New Mexico are not union. From the economic development side, when contractors are looking us, then we miss out. Just 6 percent of contractors in New Mexico are union; [right to work] would benefit us all. We pay our employees well, and way pay higher than the Little Davis Bacon.”
By: Dan Mayfield (Albuquerque Business First)
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