Republicans talk a big game when it comes to creating U.S. jobs. But when push comes to shove, more and more GOP lawmakers are letting it be known that not all jobs are the same. To be frank, they want more non-union jobs. Union employers need not apply.

The latest to share their twisted feelings about the topic was South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who came out and admitted that U.S. automakers such as Chrysler, Ford and GM are not welcome in the Palmetto State.  “We discourage any companies that have unions from coming to South Carolina because we don’t want to taint the water,” she told the Greenville News.

Of course, Gov. Haley is hardly the only good corporate solider who is sticking up for poor, picked on big business. Earlier this month, two top Tennessee  Republicans – Sen. Bob Corker and Gov. Bill Haslem – told anyone who would listen how much they opposed an effort by Volkswagen employees at a plant in Chattanooga to join the United Auto Workers (UAW). The lawmakers, joined by corporate cronies, waged an ultimately successful campaign to defeat the effort even though VW took a neutral stance on unionization.

The UAW has announced it will appeal the vote, and rightfully so. The tampering effort by Corker and crew likely soured many employees and showed to what depths some elected officials will go to defeat unions. The question is what are they afraid of? Is it the $200 more a week the median union worker makes when compared to a non-union worker?

At the end of the day, this is really about conservatives “protecting” their No-Rights-At-Work states from getting any inkling about what the advantages are when it comes to union membership. They want to keep wages low to please their corporate masters instead of allowing some of their constituents to work hard for an honest wage that lets them provide for their families.

The good news is the public is beginning to see through their deceitful efforts. Low-wage workers all across this nation have spent the last year making their voice heard. They are demanding fair pay and respect from employers.

Now it’s time for lawmakers to do the same. Instead of backing efforts that would hinder unions and their higher salaries, they should be supporting them so together rank-and-file workers and executives can profit and help rev up the nation’s economic engine.

Hard-working Americans deserve a decent wage. Most people support such a policy. It’s time elected officials to support it too.

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