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The 2007 Index of Worker Freedom (IWF) is the first state-by-state comparative study that measures the level of worker freedom by analyzing actual policy as well as quantitative state data. With this inaugural edition, the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF) has taken the first step in providing a metric to use as a basis for time-series and trend analysis from this point forward. The Index of Worker Freedom will provide the public, researchers, policy-makers, federal and state legislatures, employees and business owners with a tool for cross-national comparative analysis and future research on the level of employee’s rights and worker freedom in each state.
In every effort to incorporate and determine the important aspects surrounding worker freedom nation-wide, this Index focuses its analysis on ten variables: right to work (RTW), minimum wage (MW), union density (UD), paycheck protection (PP), prevailing wage (PW), defined contribution pension (DC), collective bargaining rights (CB), public sector union membership (UM), entrepreneurial activity (EA), and workers compensation (WC). The current study analyzes data for all 50 states. Of great importance, this 2007 Index analyzes and incorporates not only legislative data for the purpose of policy recommendation, but also examines quantitative data using U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) information, the Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS), and data gathered from local state non-profits and think-tanks, as well as other sources.
Click on a state to view a summary of it's worker freedom.
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"The interesting methodology used by the Alliance is the heavy emphasis on public employees...but those choices make sense."
"...the IWF [Index of Worker Freedom] matters because it measures more than individual liberty in the abstract. That liberty has practical consequences, most obviously increased prosperity and job creation."
"This is an exciting new study which will hopefully spark some friendly competition among the states and increase the freedom of workers across the country!"
"The report is well done and easy to understand and navigate."
"The Alliance for Worker Freedom may not have intended to lessen union corruption, but the lessons of its Index of Worker Freedom, properly heeded, may yield this by-product."
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To schedule an interview with the author, or for more information, please contact our communications director John Kartch at jkartch@atr.org
