Tag: Right-To-Work

The possibility of Right-To-Work legislation in a state considered so incredibly 'hands off' was too unbelievable, that even the national right to work folks scoffed at those of us conferencing in Lansing were preparing it.  They were planning some help for Indiana and possibly Ohio, but Michigan? No way.

We persisted, and believing the governor's pre-election pledge that if it came before him, he would sign it, daily efforts were made to advance this important freedom, and relief from organized labor's non-accountability. It was focused, and had too many parts that would eventually lead to its successful passage, to give credit to one entity, or idea or effort. All hands were on deck, and the trick was getting it in front of the governor to sign.

Which he did.  And we thank him for honoring his promise.

While the fight to KEEP it will go on for a couple of years, we should celebrate this point in time with vigor.

That debate is whether or not to advance contracts for bargaining units so that those units will operate under a closed shop for as long as possible.  Union leadership, in order to extend their hold on the workers is willing to concede items already won.  Public sector employers, seeing an opportunity to get concessions not so easily given before, is eager to capitulate. By golly taxpayers are well served, right? Win Win, right? Right?

I guess its a matter of perspective.  

For the employees, they get to find out how well they have been served by their bargaining masters.  Being locked in so that they can lose a perk or two, and with an added bonus of having several more years of unaccountability?  A BARGAIN at half the price!

Even a contract signed as recently as November can be reopened and dealt away on the basis of expected health benefits costs, and a college which hopes to limit its exposure

" MCAAP and MCCFO took the offer, he surmised, because they were going to be subject to the health care changes before the end of 2013 anyway."

A few more shekels out of the employees pockets, so that they may remain the property of the union for an additional 5 months.

We are already hearing that he is attempting an end around with the labor leadership, and somehow the words "sneaky little $||IT" come to mind quickly.  The time is perfect with all strategic perspectives considered, and the fact that we need to worry whether a Republican governor would sign such important civil rights legislation is amazing.

As I have already mentioned, it was good to see Devos and Weiser join in the fight.  Now there is another high profile participant in the debate. A statement issued today:

"The Michigan Chamber of Commerce announced today its support for passage of "freedom to work" legislation that would prohibit employees in Michigan from being forced to join a union or provide financial support to a union as a condition of employment. Currently, Michigan employees can be forced to participate in a union and are required to contribute financially or face termination.

"After surveying the Michigan Chamber's general membership (85 percent support), receiving clear direction from our Board of Directors and carefully reviewing the impact Freedom to Work legislation would have on Michigan, it is clear that now is the time for bold and decisive leadership to pass comprehensive Freedom to Work legislation that applies to both the public and private sectors," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley. "This action would make Michigan the 24th state (after Indiana) to enact Freedom to Work legislation and it would help create and retain jobs in Michigan and improve our state's economic competitiveness."

"We support this legislation because it is good public policy that will protect all employees from being forced to join a union and pay dues against their will," said Jim Holcomb, Senior Vice President & General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. "It is important to understand that Freedom to Work legislation is allowed under federal law and does not prohibit a union's right to exist or prevent collective bargaining - it just gives every employee the ability to decide for themselves if joining and financially supporting a union is the right choice for them."

The Michigan Chamber represents approximately 6,400 businesses of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. Michigan Chamber member businesses provide jobs to 1.5 million residents. One of every 2.6 employees in Michigan works for a Chamber member firm.

Well done, and good to see the support.

The failure of proposal 2 in November's election drove home the fact that Michigan is ready to become the 24th Right To work state.  The millions in big labor money spent to even further violate the civil rights of Michigan workers was not successful, and brought the issue out into a broader theater of debate.  The Freedom to Work organization (disclosure: I am a member) was joined by political heavyweights Dick Devos and Ron Weiser who are now calling for action on this important piece of Michigan's future.

"MIRS News reports former Michigan Republican Party chairman Ron Weiser and 2006 GOP gubernatorial nominee Dick DeVos are putting the pressure on in the Senate, where Majority Leader Randy Richardville doesn't want to take it up."

And labor leadership is freaking out. Kyle Olson, writes:

"Now the union is wringing its hands over a rumored Right to Work proposal that may be introduced and debated in the state legislature during the lame duck session.

On Tuesday, the union pressed the panic button and issued a screed to its members via email:

"With just a few weeks left in the Legislative session, right-wing politicians in Lansing are looking to exact political revenge against union members by ramming through dangerous bills that will harm school employees, middle-class families and children throughout Michigan.

"Their reckless agenda includes: ...

 ... "These extremist legislators must be stopped immediately. The Working Michigan coalition is holding events across our state tonight and tomorrow night to help mobilize union members and supporters in the effort to fight back."

It's hard to feel sorry for this group of tin-horned gangsters. They were in a good position and they got too greedy.

But we best not consider this a done deal until the guv's pen is to paper.

Your legislator needs your strength. Call them. praise them for their support of this basic civil right. Write them. Encourage them to act quickly and decisively. Call your friends and encourage them to do the same.  Watch the video below the fold to get a better understanding of why.

Update [2012-11-30 10:51:19 by JGillman]: As a bonus, here are a couple who REALLY want you to call them and offer support of Freedom to work. (H/T Jack Hoogendyk)

Instead of acknowledging that there is trouble within the Michigan Senate, it might appear that the Senate GOP is going to circle the wagons.

Not so worried about that.

Around these parts we certainly acknowledge Michigan Senate majority leader Randy Richardville is a lousy excuse for a Republican.  He obviously has a conflict going on inside the ol oil can with regard to which side of the labor argument to be on.  He is a Republican.  However, and unnaturally, he seems to side with the goons that feast on the poor and unfortunate, that have more than enough problems without the help of a skim scam being protected by self service:

"On Wednesday, March 14, Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell, introduced Senate Bill 1018. The measure mirrors House Bill 4003, which was designed to stop the "skim" and prevent future forced unionizations. Co-sponsoring Hildenbrand's bill are 21 Senate Republicans. Only 20 votes are needed to pass legislation in the Senate.

This should mean there are now 22 GOP Senators leaning toward voting "yes' on HB 4003 and sending it to the Governor. However, they can't vote for the bill if Sen. Richardville refuses to put it up for a vote."

By golly, standing up for something like Right-To-Work when there is an opportunity like no other is a pretty clear message with whom he might side.  Contrast that to the moderate occupying the executive branch in our state, and we find that Michigan is indeed dark to the light in a state southern to us.  Contrast it to the pandering to the left of some congressmen who represent Michigan, to others who understand the limitations placed on government, as their The edges are defined, and it appears there is no question if conservatives have a friend in Lansing, or Washington, or not.

Add to this, Mr Daniels was selected as the standard for rebuttal of the President's SOTU speech the other night, and even with a dry presentation it cut some clear lines of delineation between those of us on the right, and the left so often emulated by moderates. When Daniels answered Obama:"

"In word and deed, the President and his allies tell us that we just cannot handle ourselves in this complex, perilous world without their benevolent protection. Left to ourselves, we might pick the wrong health insurance, the wrong mortgage, the wrong school for our kids; why, unless they stop us, we might pick the wrong light bulb!

A second view, which I admit some Republicans also seem to hold, is that we Americans are no longer up to the job of self-government. We can't do the simple math that proves the unaffordability of today's safety net programs, or all the government we now have. We will fall for the con job that says we can just plow ahead and someone else will pick up the tab. We will allow ourselves to be pitted one against the other, blaming our neighbor for troubles worldwide trends or our own government has caused."

In fact, looking at the health care exchange, and light bulbs, we can see that the second view has been alive and well in Michigan and those charged to represent us.

I hope the Republican establishment view that capitulating to the left's desires brings us together somehow, can be replaced by the solid philosophical grounding that conservatism brings.  Sometimes one has to be strong.  Rather than emulate even the most modest of progressive ideals which are nearly always counter productive, perhaps our Republican leaders in Michigan can learn a little from this perceived establishment governor, from a state with people so much like our own.  Conservative messages well delivered will win. Solutions are at hand. We just need to use them.

In Indiana, the passage of Right-To-Work is a message sent.  In Michigan, its passage would show it to be a message well received.