Will Michigan Right to Work Laws Grow on Ashes of Proposal Two and Twinkies?

[XLFD]

In Michigan, we currently have the proper growing conditions to become a right to work state.  Right to work laws are statutes that prohibits agreements between labor unions and employers that govern the extent to which an established union can require employees' membership, payment of union dues, or fees as a condition of employment, either before or after hiring.

As such, they are actively fought against by unions, making union-rich Michigan a bellwether case for many other states who may decide to go to right to work legislation.  Twenty-three states currently have such laws, mostly to the south.  Earlier this year, Indiana became the first 'rust belt' state to make a RTW law.  Credible research has shown that those areas with RTW laws have significantly greater job growth than those without, even when we look not just at states, but at counties and cities who have adopted RTW legislation as compared to surrounding areas without.

Unions counter that research shows that salaries and benefits are lower in RTW areas, and the loss of collective bargaining with employers is a drawback.  Unions have proven to be a significant force in combatting RTW, so why is Michigan currently primed to germinate such laws?

Simply put, the statewide voter defeat of Proposal 2 , an initiative would have added the right to collective bargaining for public and private sector employees to the state constitution, by a 57 to 42 percent margin, mirrored the general public opinion that a concrete majority of voters are wary of the negative business environment that occurs for current and prospective businesses with union involvement.  This could be seen as a mandate to the government to adopt RTW.

And the government would likely be receptive, as it is, because not only do Republicans control both congressional houses, but they also control the governorship, and conservatives predominate the Michigan Supreme Court.  Whereas Governor Snyder has shown that he is more moderate, he has made it known that he would sign RTW legislation if it ever fell on his desk.  There already are signs of some legislators prepared to introduce such legislation by the year's end.

Oddly enough, the recent highly visible setback for unions regarding the Hostess strike, commented on here, can act as a springboard for action while the public ponders whether the union did the right thing in the demise of the Twinkie as we know it.  Other anecdotes will be used by the supporters of RTW that will show where unionism has failed itself.  And let's not forget the recent setbacks for unions in our neighbor across the waters, Wisconsin.

So it looks as if union laborers dug the hole for the RTW flower with an overreaching Proposal 2, buried the seed with the sound defeat of that initiative, watered it with substantial defeats by governments in neighboring states, fertilized it with the remnants of Wonder Bread and Ho-Ho's, and then voters provided the climate by electing in conservative majorities who are for growth and mostly against unions.  Will right to work take root, and grow strong?  Only time will tell.

[Brian Carlson]

There was a time when unions were a good thing. Back in the days before child labor laws and people working 16 hour days for next to nothing in pay. Now days the unions only function seems to be to collect money for the Democrats.  Union membership should be voluntary and never mandatory.

[Willy]

I didn't take this video but it shows how large the tents are. Both of them were torn down. One of them had Tea Party representatives the other had Americans for Prosperity folks in it.

The following photos were taken after the protesters had left because i left my camera in the car. You can see how mutilated the tents are.

The next photo shows the Capital grounds which used to be nice and green but now is a sea of mud from all of the protesters.

There was no shortage of police as you can see from the photo below, but they did not interfere when the tents were destroyed.

[AQUAMAN]

Superb job guys of relating the issues with vigor and reality from all the pics. and of course X's graph of GDP of many states affected. Anyone see the Steven Crowder Fox News tape??? Total violence and criminal assault! Full of violence and assaults by Left Wing Liberals that are determined, and quite obsssssurd. Pitiful!

[Willy]

Below is the video of Steve Crowder getting punched by a union protesters.

[XLFD]

Willy, last night I did post this in the 'Videos' section, but it is well worth the second helping.  It shows what the many union members have devolved into.  A bunch of babies throwing tantrums when they don't get their way. 

The effects of legislation like this may not be completely understood, but introducing free market principles into the choice of whether to join a union or not, will only improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the unions in the future, and over time, improve the work climate for everyone involved.   

[Willy]

I agree X. Unions must make joining a positive thing. If unions return to what they did best, helping it's members with job security and not greedily taking until the bank is busted then things might change. Working with companies to benefit both the workers and the companies as partners and not adversaries will benefit all involved. This one sided thinking regarding only what workers want and not what the companies need to flourish has been one of the  unions major downfalls.  

[Jane]

See Willy's union pictures, now look at this for the difference between a peaceful protest versus a bunch of psycho's. Who is said to be the bad people?

MMMA Rally on Capitol Steps. Peaceful and hardly any police,found these pictures for a nice compare and contrast session!

Oh the anger! Wait, I can't even find any police in this picture. So unions evil violent entities, MI MM Law peaceful.

[Willy]

And this is a photo I took at the Tea Party rally on Lansing in April 2010. A peaceful, polite and considerate group who has been maligned and lied about by the liberals and news media as being violent and racists.