From the Lexington Herald-Leader: Facts, history rate location, workforce over right-to-work

By BILL LONDRIGAN

President Kentucky State AFL-CIO

For 14 years under three governors, Marvin “Gene” Strong Jr. served as secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. During his tenure, hundreds of employers opened facilities in Kentucky, our economic-development efforts gained positive national recognition and other states sought to emulate our strategies. 

During an interview in 2004, a reporter asked Strong if being a non-right-to-work state was a barrier to economic development. Strong responded, “This is more perception than reality.”