Back in February, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder looked out across the Midwest and said he didn't want to be like those governors pushing anti-union legislation in places like Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. From FOX News:
"I think it's unfortunate that they've gotten to that, I don't want to see that happen," Snyder said of the high profile fights and protests in neighboring states like Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. "If you want to draw it as a contrast, you look at now that they've had those things happen, do they have a productive environment to solve problems? Not necessarily. They're still overcoming the divisiveness, the hard feelings from all of that."
That was so then. Governor Snyder announced today that he will sign an anti-union "Right to Work" law, and the legislature has gone into overtime to get one on his desk. Right to Work laws ban union shops, and they tend to lead to lower wages. MLive reports that the bill would not affect police and firefighters, and that it would be written in a way that it could not be put up for repeal by voters.
As you can see in the video above from Eclectablog, things are getting heated at the Michigan state Capitol. A Democratic lawmaker has written to say that the Capitol has been locked down to keep protesters out. After the jump, a chart and some numbers.
Governor Snyder explains in a YouTube clip why he has had the change of heart. Earlier in the week, he connected it to unions asking to have collective bargaining rights enshrined in the state constitution, over Snyder's wishes.
Now he says that he has looked over at Indiana, which passed a Right to Work law in January, and where jobs have been growing rapidly. It might too soon to know whether weakening the unions made jobs grow in Indiana. The state had already begun to recover from the Great Recession when the legislature banned union shops. For what it's worth, Michigan's workforce has been bouncing back about as quickly as Indiana's.
Indiana Department of Workforce Development
More charts on Right to Work in a post yesterday; economist Gordon Lafer's deep dive into Indiana, Right to Work and the regional economy here.
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It's interesting that these governors wait until dead of winter to issue these bills for vote. Some could say it's only coincidence - but there really is a factor to weather - it keeps all but the very hardy out.
I live in Indiana and I can tell you that RTW has NOT increased jobs only driven them away, and Rick Snyder knows it! He has pushed this through because he is using the Mitch Daniels play book. Cram this law up everyone's arse and do it quick so the stupid electorate will forget what you did by the next election. Considering the jerry-mandering of all the districts, the GOP has set themselves up for re-election just as it happened in Indiana where the entire state government (except for Democrat Glenda Ritz as State Superintendent) is Republican. Michigan voters need to stay diligent and vote these scum out of office!
Indiana has been a right to work state less than a year. There is no way to tell yet wether it has done any good yet. http://right-to-work-laws.johnwcooper.com/ right to work states don't abolish unions as some on the left would have you think. The big problem unions have with right to work is that union dues tend to drop therefore the union bosses don't get the hefty raises or bonuses as much. They also tend to have less money to throw around at election time.
Right to work means right to work at lower wages for fewer benefits and in worse conditions. Is that it? Is that what the Governor is signing? He just sides with the bosses on what working people deserve. One day they will devolve into common white slavery. Don't you think?
They can try to write a law that they think can't be repealed. But, they forget that in America, someone else can come along and pass a law outlawing any previous laws that ban the democratic process.
Didn't we pass something in November that says that we have the right to vote on it before he signs it in as a Bill?
This whole thing feels like a communist take over. Getting maced at Ricky's place, taking our right to have unions, taking over Detroit and any other city you want to have the State of Michigan own. I wonder when Gov. Snyder will let us buy bread at the store? That is where Michigan is heading! They claim Obama is for Socialism; I feel Gov. Snyder is for Commuism!
RTW is just the beginning of the end for Michigan. Next on the agenda? Governor Snyder wants to set up a statewide corporate takeover of public education. He will oversee it with a chancellor. Monies will no longer go to public schools. Instead it will follow the kids as they shop around with their vouchers to have education "anytime, anyplace." Some of that can be a corporate run school or a corporate run online charter school. This is VERY bad because schools will get to pick and choose who they let in. Of course they will want the kids who "score" highest on standardized tests. More money will follow those kids. But what about our economically challenged kids whose parents can't afford this shopping around? What about our special education children? This will cause segregation and an erosion of educational rights...It will also cost the state $$$ should a parent sue over it...This is VERY bad for Michigan's kids. It is even worse for the teachers who have already been a punching bag for Snyder and his cronies. They will have to take a job that will pay considerably less, pay 40% for their healthcare, and if they want retirement, pay into a 401K (that is if they have money left over to do that after taxes.) If you want to read about it, check out this website. These are scary times for Michigan Workers and their families.
http://www.teacheaa.org/compensation.html
I am so sick of Michigan Lawmaker's taking our rights away. Dem. Mr. Dillon from Grand Rapids said it best of all. He said that they were nothing but cowards and don't have the courage to stand up and fight for our rights. That is why they locked the doors so that it would not be a public forum. Mr. Dillon also mention "Transparency" which there obviously isn't any since
Snyder got into office. I just hope they come to there senses and realize the people have the right to vote....after all isn't that what Democracy is?????
Ummmmm Geeee Michigan I'm not sure But maybe it's time to STOP voting radical Righties into Office huh ?? Or just continue to let scum like Snyder and his republican thugs take over and apply marshall law!
As a Michigan voter I'm outraged. Governor Scheider just say last Sunday he wanted no part of this.
I'm not outraged by the law, not unexpected from a republican led state, but by the fact that they're writing it in such a way that voters can't do anything to repeal it. They're intentionally usurping our democratic rights
I saw an ad on tv last night in sopport of "choice to work" as they're branding it. It's obvious the republicans have had this in the works for awhile, doing it all on the QT, and waiting until they had all their ducks in a row before they sprang it on us, in the hope they can rail it through before the voters or democrats in the house legislature have a chance to do anything to try and stop them
I just moved from Michigan to North Carolina upon graduation from college because there were no teaching jobs in Michigan. I got a teaching job in North Carolina (which I love) but it is a right to work state. North Carolina pays its teachers less than any other state in this country.
With student loan payments I am literally living paycheck to paycheck. I'm not saying that I deserve to make $100,000 a year. HOWEVER I do think that with a 5 year degree and the hours that teachers work...I should be making more than just above the current poverty level.
Governor Snyder is literally smacking the public workers in Michigan by putting this law into effect. Public service positions are some of the most important positions in the American workforce and yet it seems in Michigan and states elsewhere that they mean the least.
Funny, what would happen if you didn't have teachers, nurses, police and firemen around? People are having to quit these jobs (which they love) left and right not because they are unpleased with their position but because THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE A LIVING.
What is our country coming to? Really...