The legislature in Chile has shot down a union move to allow the country’s government workers collective bargaining and a “right” to strike.

After two days of debate the measure was shot down gaining only 21 votes, four votes shy of the two thirds necessary to win the day.

This is a good move for Chile. For countries south of the US border, Chile stands as one of the most economically successful and one of the reasons for this is that the country does not allow its government workers to drive up the costs of government by giving them rights to collectively bargain or strike.

Chile posted 7% GDP growth in the last quarter, on par with recent trends. Per capita income is now $17,000, 10 times what it was in 1980, and its successful social security system is now private.

As IBD notes, this makes Chile a “full right-to-work county.”

The idea is to prevent the ugly anti-democratic dynamic — now seen in Wisconsin and elsewhere — of public employee unions extorting concessions from politicians in exchange for campaign support.

This should be a lesson to the rest of the world. Success and economic freedom is exclusionary of unions.

No related posts.