"Right-to-work state" question...

[Treclo]

Having just moved here, I don't understand if the federal minimum wage hike will affect us or not. Can anyone out enlighten me?

[Zambero]

1. Right to work vs. minimum wage

These are actually two different labor-related issues. "Right to work" has to do with employees in a majority-sanctioned union shop being able to refuse to pay union dues with no impact to their employment status. Minimum wage is just that, and yes, even Idaho employers and others in right-to-work states would be required to comply with any increase in the Federal Minimum wage. If there is any relationship between the two, it might be that right-to-work states tend to have fewer and weaker unions, the result of which is lower wages. Similarly, most minimum wage earners have no effective union representation.