Michigan’s governor Rick Snyder proudly touts his state’s right-to-work success as part of his upcoming reelection campaign just as Volkswagen factory workers in Tennessee exercise their state’s right-to-work laws. More and more, right-to-work laws are becoming part of the national conversation around labor–but there can be confusion about what the term means and what it’s meant to do. Producer Michael Simon Johnson examines the history of right-to-work laws and what their impact is today.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Michael Simon Johnson spend most of his childhood making music and groaning when his parents put on NPR in the car. So naturally he graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Sound Design, moved to New York and made his way into public radio. As an engineer, he has worked for Afropop Worldwide, WNYC’s Radio Rookies, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. He commits much of his time to working on radio and multimedia projects but can often be found playing the bass, rock climbing, and traveling.