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.

[Dave]

Its like one of my favorite talking heads on the radio puts it, if unions are so great, why do are you forced to pay to be in them?

[XLFD]

It wasn't always thus.  Before the Wagner Act of 1935, nobody could force you into being in the union.  Before that point, the union had to effectively show you that joining the union was worth it, a free market principle. 

Compulsory unionism removes this market mechanism that assures accountability, and thus allows labor unions to pursue their own interests regardless of their consistency with the interests of workers.  This is why most people will agree that unions were necessary before this time, and became somewhat corrupted in focus since, in states that have no right-to-work laws.

[Marty Redman]

If not for Detroit, it would be easy for Michigan to become a right to work state.  Even with all the favorable conditions you put out.  But if it does fall there may be hope for Illinois too.

[XLFD]

There looks to be a movement afoot, the unions are moving into Lansing to make the climate difficult to do so, but the legislator may be getting basic right to work legislation through at the end of the year.  This contains a video from WOOD TV: 

 

Right-to-work protestors flood Capitol

"Democratic leaders said they'll use all legal means to resist legislation that prohibits unions from collecting fees from nonunion workers."  That's pretty sad.

[XLFD]

Here's the bill that passed theSenate SB 116.  The next stop is the State House, here is the history and possible future.

[Willy]

The way I see it is everyone still has the right to organize and be represented by a union and all of the union members, except, State employees have the right to collective bargaining. If RTW is passed it will allow folks to opt out of any union memberships,activities or paying union dues. That's only fair. If employees find their working conditions deplorable they always have the right to join a union. RTW is fair and common sense legislation.

[Morningstar]

Just saw on the news this morning how upset Obama is that Michigan is going to be a Right to Work state. I say if he's upset, we must be doing something right!

[XLFD]

Here's a video from the Governor's office with a few union members making the case for making Michigan a right to work state:

[XLFD]

And here's a message from the Governor himself talking about fairness and equity in the workplace in choosing whether to be union or not.  It looks like he's going to be signing this into law, and you can bet it will send a message to all other states who do not have right to work laws. 

[XLFD]

Just to be specific, the Guv'ner has just signed this into law: 

http://news.yahoo.com/michigan-gov-snyder-signs-bills-230212894--fi...

Don't expect jobs to develop overnight, or the union to quit fighting back.  But it is a good dose of news.

[Willy]

I was in Lansing today and there must have been 5,000 people protesting this bill. Some of them went crazy and tore down a couple of large tents set up on the Capital lawn. The protesters beat up a reporter and after the tent collapsed they stomped on it even while there were people still under the canvas. There were women and children in the tents. I took some photos after the crowd had gone and will post them as soon as I get them off my camera. What union member don't seem to realize is that unions were not banned in this legislation. The law to be signed only lets workers opt out of paying union dues without being fired if they work in a union shop.

[AQUAMAN]

Good comments all, anxious to see those pics. of Willy's too. We sent a man to Lansing named Snyder to help this State get back on it's feet, seems he is taking the job on as we voted for. The actual percentage of union members as a working population in Michigan is 17.5 % vs. 82.5% non-union. I thought that the majority ruled in the USA? Violent union liberals want to get their way, and are willing to be violent and destructive to get it and force it down everyone else's throat, and that is just wrong, and not American imho. Glad to see we are state #24 that is voting this as law, and all the Obama visits for stopping it are just a waste of his time, when he should be at work in DC and helping the Sandy victims out instead.