Michigan’s new Right-to-Work laws, a huge blow to unions  

LANSING-Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed the controversial Right-to-Work bills into law Tuesday after nearly 13,000 people rallied in the state’s capitol against them. The move makes Michigan the 24th Right-to-Work state in the country.   

Right-to-Work laws limit the power of unions by making membership and payment of union dues or fees voluntary for public and private sector employees either before or after hiring. Those who oppose Right-to-Work laws call them an attack on working class families.

Supporters of it say the laws will drive in more jobs, and allow businesses to employ additional people. Additionally, the laws are expected to make union officials work harder and be more accountable.  

On Monday President Barack Obama spoke out against the laws at the Daimler Detroit Diesel auto plant in Redford saying the laws weren’t about economics, but rather politics. Speaking the President said, “What they’re really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money.” The President also said the laws would take away workers’ rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions.

The laws are a huge blow for organized labor in Michigan, however some union members have admitted to backing the laws and say they’ve been threatened or harassed by their co-workers as a result.
It’s still coming as a major surprise to much of the country that Michigan became a Right-to-Work state. Michigan is home to the heavily organized U.S. auto industry, with about 700 manufacturing plants across the state. The United Auto Workers, one of the country’s richest labor unions, was established in Michigan which reportedly has the fifth highest percentage of unionized workers in the country.

Three local school districts canceled classes after learning a vast majority of teachers would be protesting in Lansing. The school districts include, the Taylor School District, Warren Consolidated Schools and Fitzgerald Public Schools. In the Warren Consolidated District close to 500 of its 826 teachers called in saying they wouldn’t be at work.   In Taylor about 200 of the District’s 500 teachers reported that they would be using their personal days. 

Opponents of the laws say Right-to-Work pushes the advancement and progress of organized labor and unions back decades.  Republicans are being accused of pushing Right-to-Work legislation too quickly without giving Democrats enough time to act. Snyder said the Right-to-Work bills have been pending long enough for people to contact their state legislators and inform them about their opposition, and that there has been extensive discussion about them.

Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson was also in Lansing protesting against the measure. The Capitol was closed to visitors when it reached a capacity of 2,200, and about 10,000 people demonstrated outside.  In recent years the Right-to-Work movement has been growing in the United States. Earlier this year Indiana, another industrial state enacted Right-to-Work laws.

During the protest, supporters of Right-to-Work were attacked when opponents of the law knocked down their tents. Pepper spray was also used by law enforcement officials to calm protesters down.  In 2011 Wisconsin enacted laws that also restrict the power of public sector unions.