A John Locke Foundation study says that allowing public unions to have collective bargaining rights would hinder North Carolina's economy. | Stock Photo
A John Locke Foundation study says that allowing public unions to have collective bargaining rights would hinder North Carolina's economy. | Stock Photo
Allowing collective bargaining to occur for public sector employees in North Carolina could cost taxpayers upward of $1.32 billion.
The John Locke Foundation report determined that repealing the collective bargaining prohibition could increase government spending by anywhere from $889 million to $1.32 billion, adding about $120 to individual taxpayers.
"It would impede the economic recovery by making it more expensive to do business in North Carolina," Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation vice president for research, said, the Carolina Journal reported on Oct. 21. "The cost of government would surge, and that increase would force elected officials to impose tax increases on all North Carolinians."
North Carolina has the second-lowest union rate in the nation, but unions are working to change that. Democratic legislators introduced bills to allow collective bargaining in 2019.
Stoops said this creates a beneficial loop for unions and politicians but harmful to taxpayers, the Carolina Journal reported. Not calculated in the estimated cost are increased retirement and healthcare benefits, substantial costs.
"It will create a continuous drain on public resources," Stoops said. "It will break state and local budgets. Government at all levels will be unable to sustain the costs associated with higher wages and benefits. Repealing the ban on collective bargaining would be the first step in providing greater power to unions."
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