Perhaps the most well known union in our area is in the City of Georgetown at its steel mill. 

Nearly 200 employees are back to work after several shut downs.

Their union, United Steelworkers, was instrumental in making sure they maintained benefits that include free healthcare, retirement healthcare, and a pension.

In South Carolina, just under five percent of the workforce is represented by a union.

State law does not allow state workers here to unionize. Even though the debate raging in some midwestern states couldn't happen here, James Sanderson who heads up the local union chapter says he's saddened by what he calls an assault on labor.

"The business people feel like this is a good opportunity to destroy the labor movement. They feel like because of the conditions that we have with the economy right now, they want to take advantage of this crisis."

Sanderson adds America would look like a third world country if not for the efforts of unions. "I don't understand why they are so concerned about collective bargaining, because that's the rights that the people have in this country, collective bargaining we have that under the National Labor Relations Act."

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker still faces opposition to stripping collective bargaining rights, while a judge decides the fate of his law.

According to an Associated Press report, under a new Ohio law, unions can negotiate wages, but not health care, sick time or pension benefits. It gets rid of automatic pay increases and replaces them with merit raises or performance pay. Workers would also be banned from striking.

Sanderson says this attack on unions will motivate people to fight for their rights. "I think the people in these states are going to wake up and realize that they need to be much more educated when they go to the voting booth. They have to understand what will be the consequences of their vote."

And here at home, Governor Nikki Haley is trying to block a union from forming at Charleston's Boeing plant.

"She's crossed the line as governor. I don't feel our tax dollars should be used for the state to fight working people's rights to form a union," added Sanderson.

Sanderson adds he would like to see Haley focus on bringing jobs to the state and dredging in Georgetown and Charleston.

Collective bargaining rights allows employees to negotiate wages and benefits. The argument given for blocking them is to make up for budget shortfalls.

Many unions fall under the leadership of the AFL-CIO. According to the group's website, they represent more than 12 million workers.