Training in how to "protest peacefully, get noticed and stay safe" at a UAW hall in Dearborn, Michigan, today.
With sudden support from Republican Governor Rick Snyder, Republicans in the Michigan legislature have been speeding through a package to severely weaken unions in that state. The pace at which the bills are moving through the lame-duck session is almost unbelievable. That it's happening in the birthplace of the modern American labor union is almost unfathomable.
The legislature next takes up the so-called Right to Work measures, which essentially ban union shops, on Tuesday. Today opponents of Right to Work gathered at the UAW hall, picture above, for training in how to "protest peacefully and stand together" -- a long tradition in Michigan labor. State officials are expecting a crowd of thousands next week at the Capitol in Lansing. Eclectablog reports that the union supporters will find that conservative groups have already reserved the Capitol steps for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, after which the chambers adjourn.
Activists are also making calls from a phone-bank against the bills at the AFL/CIO office in Lansing. Meanwhile, a judge has urged state police to keep the Capitol building open to protesters if at all possible. The closure of the building last Thursday, during the first votes, has prompted suits over the state's Open Meetings law.
Right to Work legislation has moved through so quickly that one Republican lawmaker voter against it because, he said, "We literally weren't given the legislation to read until minutes before voting." From experience with Right to Work in other states, conservatives and liberals agree that the rule is catastrophic for unions, with significant cuts in membership, and lower wages and benefits. As Stephen Henderson writes in the Detroit Free Press:
[O]f the 11 states with the fastest-growing economies as measured by gross domestic product, only three were right-to-work states in 2011. (Michigan was on that list in 2011, too, which Snyder spent all year this year bragging about. Now, suddenly, he claims our economy is being hobbled by an oppressive union environment.)
As a result, right-to-work states also suffer much worse poverty than union states, by several important measures.
Eight of the 10 states with the lowest overall per-capita incomes are right-to-work. And among the states with the highest rates of people without medical insurance (a sign of the quality of jobs available), seven of 10 are right-to-work. Eight of the 10 states with the highest poverty rates are right-to-work.
If Right to Work, leads to job growth, it appears be because of a successful race to the bottom. (H/t Ed Gilgore at Washington Monthly, Alec MacGillis at The New Republic.) (And P.S. Michigan Republicans have also been racing through new restrictions on abortion, sweeping changes to the education that several superintendents call undemocratic, and a revised emergency manager law, while Detroit talks big layoffs to avoid a state takeover.)
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If the UAW wants to stop the law dead in it's tracks, it needs to have it's members simply engage in full blown work stoppages across the country until it's repealed. Which would take all of about 20 minutes, given the automotive industry pull in Michigan.
daw55, right to work laws have been around since 1947 when the Taft-Hartley act was passed over President Truman's veto. 23 states have right-to-work laws which says that a worker where a union bargains collectively, does not have to join the union or pay for the cost of collective bargaining. 23 states have right to work laws, some even have right to work in their state constitution as well. Michigan would be 24.
Ever since Taft-Hartley, companies have been working to reduce the power of unions. If you ever listen to Fox News, you will hear the companies' argument that the unions are too powerful. That is not true, but Fox and others have the microphone. Union membership has gone down dramatically over the years to around 7% of the workforce. Right to work laws deprive a union of iresources to bargain for its workers because a worker can "free-load" and not pay anything to the union.
So you see, labor has been trying to restore the level playing field since 1947 and so far, the companies hold a very strong hand.
I hope that the next four years will see movement toward leveling the playing field and making the collective bargaining a growing part of the labor-management equation.
To echo Jimes' point a little further...
According to the BLS no one industry is represented by a majority who are unionized. The closest industry is that of education in which roughly 47% report being a member of a union. Additionally the BLS states that the national average for union membership is 12% and that the most unionized state in our country is New York with roughly 25% of the state belonging to unions.
It's amazing to me how these unions can continually effect businesses so much (as all these companies claim) when unions do not represent a majority in any fashion. Such a tiny minority and yet all these companies continually insist that no, no the unions are bankrupting us! It's rather fascinating.
I also want to add that it isn't small businesses like mine who routinely complain about unions- ever notice that? It's always big companies like Wal Mart who have a problem with unions. Now why might that be? Maybe because your local mom and pop shop cares about it's employees, but a mega-international-corporation like Wal Mart doesn't. Maybe that's why I provide health insurance and a liveable wage to all my employees (which I would have done regardless of PPACA and any wage laws), but that's why Wal Mart doesn't. Maybe that's why Wal Mart pushes it's employees onto food stamps, public housing, and Medicare even while they are working full time, but I actually give people a salary so they can have a home.
I know I've ranted about this before, but I'm telling you all: don't believe the hype when Republicans talk about small businesses. They don't care about us one iota. It's all for the national and multi-national companies. They are the "profit" makers who benefit from Republican policies at the expense of everybody else.
Cartoonnews, I'm a Union guy and I just want to say Thank's, As much as we get bashed it is good to hear a Respectful Post from a Buisness Owner. I also applaud YOU for Taking care of your Workers, That is ALL the Working People want. Thank's
Sarge, I wouldn't blindly accept the idea that cartoon is a real business owner.
I've had my own business, business owners are friends of mine, and from what I've seen, cartoon is no business owner.
Awwwww....
Somebody's feeling a little left out of things.
The GOP has no goals other than solidifying the gains for the current haves. They care nothing about anything or anybody else. Nothing.
GOP objective: the libertarian paradise of the Confederacy.
Here's a tip, Shooter: not everyone is as much of a tool as you are. Some people, many of them very successful business people, manage to run their lives WITHOUT slurping the Kochs'... well, you know. They also haven't mortgaged their morals away in search for one more almighty dollar. I know, it's a shocking concept.
I wonder if it would blow Shooter's mind to hear that there are lots of small business owners who enjoy working with unions and some who even prefer working with unions? There are also lots of small business owners who allow their employees to take part ownership of the business or who allow the employees to primarily run the business. And guess what? The majority of these companies are not only vibrant, but they do better than their money-to-the-top counterparts.
But, in general, I'm not going to have a person with a rudimentary understanding of economics, who constantly makes statements that invalidate other statements that he has made or blatantly contradicts other statements that he has made, and a guy who fails on a continual basis to present any facts to support any of the arguments he makes talk to me about how to run a business or what it takes to run a business. Not to be rude, but that is probably why I still have a business and this supposed business expert can only talk about his "once-upon-a-time" story of business ownership.
The shhit-for-brains Airball thinks business is economics. It's difficult to find a bigger ignoramus than he is on the intertubz anywhere.
Shooter is constantly outed in here for presenting made up fiction , along with his party , you can not say the same thing about CartoonTheNews , and this is why shooter in compelled to insult CTN
Game set match
Boy, ever since Lloyd Bentsen pwned(before it was even called pwnage) Quayle with that quip, Repubs have been desperate to try to turn it back on Dems. Fail again, Airball.
And while you are at least paying attention to the "Right to Work" scam being pushed through in Michigan, NO ONE is paying attention to the ALEC-sponsored education bills that are being rammed through in the same lame duck session. These laws are a nightmare and the national press is paying no attention at all. They are literally trying to kill public education in Michigan and replace it with corporate for-profit education. It is unbelievable! Where is the press? We in Michigan need your help on this issue too Rachel!!
Good point -- I just added the education part. I'd forgotten it with everything else that's happening. Michigan, wow.
ALL the other bills are being forgotten and getting little if any press coverage - we really need your help Rachel!! Please get the word out. The right to work bill is all over the news - but the others arent even being aired.
The msm had to cover the cop buying a guy shoes folks , and the Duchess with morning sickness , you know , the feel good fluff stuff that matters ( puke )
Sen Bernie Sanders was on Moyers PBS this weekend , talking about media consolidation , he pointed out the msm , (i do not include msnbc ) are all talking about THE FISCAL CLIFF blah blah , when we should be talking JOBS JOBS JOBS , you would never know it watching the corporate media tho
And somehow I doubled my comments -- sorry!
They are doing the same thing with women's rights. It is a mess in this state.
Does anyone know what the case law is on the "attach a de minimus appropriation to an unrelated law to protect it from the citizenry" scheme?
I would think that as a transparent pretext to circumvent the Constitution a court would have found the two parts of the Act (unrelated appropriation and body of law) to be separable on the grounds that the "no referenda" Constitutional clause otherwise renders the provision for referenda moot.
But I'll admit IANAL. Love to hear it explained, though.
In Michigan any bill with appropriations attached can not be overturned via voter referandum. So they are placing $50,000 on each bill for informational brochures, etc. To each bill so the citizens cant get a petition to repeal the bills. And BTW - they arent reporting via the media this craziness either. Except airing Snyders comment about how he will make sure the bills cant be overturned. The media needs to explain to the citizens what this means, and what they are doing!
I understand the trick, but what I don't understand is how the trick has gotten a pass from the courts -- I assume someone must have challenged it at some point!
Because Michigan courts have been taken over by tough on crime conservative judges.
I understand the problem with partisan judges, but even partisan judges have to cite their legal reasoning. Which I'd love to see.
Well, but it doesn't have to be convincing. They can just make up any excuse. When it comes down to it, everything is like that when you've got the power.
Compromising is the best policy for a democracy that takes care of its people. Human rights = dignity, compassion and respect.
An original song and video, in solidarity with Michigan workers!
http://youtu.be/HD7KEcW-sXI
The right to work bill is finally getting coverage - and alot of it. But the other bills they have passed, FEMA (after we voted it down in the election), School system changes to allow more charter schools and open enrollment to any school, removing insurance coverage in any plan for abortion even for risk to mothers health, rape, ancest, fetal health - need to make it a seperate rider, allowing health care workers (pharmasists to doctors to aides in nursing homes) to refuse treatment based on morals. These have gotten almost no ceverage on the local news, the right to work bill is overshadowing all the other insane bills they passed this week.
These laws shouldnt be just getting a P.S. - These are huge and are being overshadowed by the right to work issue. Most people in Michigan dont even know they passed these!
Nice summary of the nightmare passel of bills pending in MI. On the education package, people do not know that it will effectively give one person appointed by the governor (not elected) access to basically unlimited public funds to apportion out to any "school" (charter, online or "My Friend Bob's Academy") with NO standards, NO accountability, not even answerable to the state Board of Education. There is no limit to the amount of money or the number of "schools". So this one bill can allow one person to bleed the entire public education system to funnel money to anything calling itself a school in an amount we can't even know!
This person can even force a school district to sell buildings (built with our tax dollars) that are not being "used" (anybody want to try to define "used"?), again with no standards or accountability. In other words, a school district can be forced to sell real estate to "My Friend Bob's Academy" at a very friendly price! This is absolutely INSANE and has ALEC written all over it. Help, Rachel!
Toni, Unfortunatley that is the problem with the MSM, Here in WI. same deal With Walker, Heck, I know People up in the Northern part of the State who had no idea about the John Doe Investigation. D.C. Session's brought up a good point, I asked that question on a Radio call in Show, Didn't really get an answer, But I raised it Because a Judge here in WI. ruled that what Walker did with the CB was Unconstitutional. So I don't know.
It seems to me that we the citizens can do only 2 things about these new Repub attacks on "Truth, Justice, and the American Way".
1] Challenge them in court.
2] Get the word out over the next year or 2 to the voters, and then throw these bums OUT!
Toni ShamelessTrouble : Do you write letters to the editor's of all the main stream media in Michigan? Contact the radio and TV stations, get the people who feel the same as you to do the same. It is a lot of work, but you seem passionate and really concerned about these issues so keep trying to make it known in Michigan.
michaeljaysmama
Sounds like the same ALEC situation Florida is going thru , some charter school failed miserably there , and the principle of the school got like a $3 million bonus , straight out of the education fund , while walking away from it all ..She was pals and a big doner Fl. t bagger govenor ,
And I believe it was all ok'ed by some governor appointed HEAD OF EDU ...It is basically Haliburton contract home school give all your pals cash education funding ...Classic gop failure , and they get elected again
I was at the senate session on Thursday and this whole thing has me so disgusted with our politicians. I have pictures of one particular Senator that I found appalling, Senator Brandenburg representing Harrison Township on my wall. He read the newspaper with his feet propped up on his desk the entire time. He really needs a lesson in respect and common courtesy to say the least. I can not begin to describe how upset he made me with his arrogance and lack of concern while his fellow constituents were at the microphone and this bill was pushed through. Next time around I plan to work hard to make sure he is not re-elected. If anyone would like to see these pictures send me a message.
I'd be curious to see those. You can send there to us here.
Republicans are scheming skunks as far as their 'promises' go. ..
It is time for a recall This Govenor has lost his mind, Michigan has enough problems as it is. The Republicans are hell bent on destroying the whole country. 2016, can come soon enough.
Carol, I'm just curious, Did any info about what Gov. Walker did here in WI make it into the News in Mich?
Sarge, yes it had extensive coverage in both the Detroit News and Free Press. As far as TV coverage, not sure if I saw it on local news, or national network news, but I did see lots of coverage, other than on the cable news shows.
Kind of like the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Yes, when you take away workers' wages and medical care, that kills peoples' hearts, souls, and bodies. What have we ever done to the ALEC billionaires behind these horrible laws? Why do they hate us so? Are they so lost in greed, that they've acquired the conscience of cannibals?
You took the money that's rightfully theirs and wasted it on food, shelter, clothing, and education.
Time for more SUNLIGHT and public shame/embarrassment (if only that were possible) via youtube, twitter, homemade handouts and fliers, and every cheap available venue: e.g. what's happening and specifics about how it affects average people, who donates to the legislature and governor in MI to get them to pass this stuff & how much (if possible), etc. etc. People need to realize it's not "safe" to "sleep" through this bc ALEC and the Kochs aren't sleeping, and it is coming to a city or state near YOU.
The way they put this through says a lot about the ethical makeup of the Governor and most of his fellow Republicans. I put together the top 10 quotes from the last few days on my blog. Check it out if you want to know more: http://www.michiganpopulist.org/?p=921
If people do not like working in a union shop, then they can quit and get a job in a non-union facility. Nobody forces you to work in a union.
There are only two forms of forced labor in the U.S. that I know of, military draft and jury duty and neither one forces you to join a union.
Dagnabbit!!! You people were told time and again what this dip@!$%# was like before he was elected!! Why was he ever elected??? The jerk is right off of Wall St. You knew that he didn't care about the little person. It will be a long time cleaning up the mess these jerks leave and there will be enough right wing religionists in Michigan to ensure that these people maintain their positions.
It is just so frustrating to see in advance what is going to happen and people don't pay any attention. This must be what Cassandra felt like. It's horrible.
Here I thought NOBODY, but me, knew the story of Cassandra.
It is part of the Trojan War story.
I absolutely agree with you. Except I would add a little bit of defense for some Republicans who voted for this piece of horse*&^%. Snyder's campaign was a total con job, and the Democratic nominee for governor was a total putz! Snyder ran his campaign to the middle, he portrayed himself as an old-fashioned, get the job done, rational Republican: he was NOT one of the radical, tea-bagging, right-wing nut jobs. Meanwhile the Democratic candidate ran like some union dude right out of the 1950's. It was awful. Of course I voted for the Dem, but kept firing off letters and email to his campaign about how unbelievably STUPID they were, for all the good it did me.
So NOW the problem is that most REPUBLICANS in Michigan have no idea exactly what this corrupt legislature and amoral turd of a governor are doing! Of course, the brainless tea-baggers hear the buzzwords they love and grin stupidly, but that whole group of traditional Republicans simply don't know what exactly is happening, because the press is doing a perfectly dreadful job of covering it.
When the superintendents of schools of Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham sent home letters about how worried (read terrified) they are about the current "education" bills, I can tell you that every single Republican parent I talked to was FURIOUS. This was not what they thought they were voting for in Snyder. And it is probably more effective that when they get the email from Snyder asking for their support, they respond that if he doesn't veto these bills they will never vote for another Republican in their lives. Unfortunately, I fear it is too little, too late.
Regular voters know what the gop will do if given an opportunity , moderate middle ground voters seem to be clueless about it tho , iowa elected a gop gov in 2010 , he ran on improving EDUCATION , we all knew what that meant , the 1st thing he did was try and gut education funding and ALEC the tax code in a way that would destroy local funding for schools
The people all got up in arms , but these same people , when you tell them how important it is to vote in every election , turn glassy eyed when the subject comes up , one gop govenor will get them motivated tho , but you have to have a sane candidate , FOR SURE !!!
Rep. Brandon Dillon Speaks Out Against MI 'Right to Freeload' Legislation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A14aMuVunfo
This is what happens when people don't vote in mid-term elections. Now we're just another Republican controlled state, with ALEC writing legislation, which slides right through, with the media not saying @!$%# about it.
A great point. It isn't that folks in Michigan should just give up; they need to do what they can to at least slow down anti-union and anti-middle class legislation. However, those who oppose this need to begin organizing RIGHT NOW for the 2014 elections.
Michigan Democrats need to start mobilizing and directing their energies toward finding electable candidates and making plans to develop strategies necessary to win the governorship and take control of both houses of the Michigan Legislature.
At that point, they can reverse most or all of these laws, rules, and regulations.
i do believe that it's about time for those bright young things who helped get the President elected to branch out. it seems like the "narwhal" should be brought back from the endangered species list.
grassroots dissemination of information and a GOTV program seem to be the keys to success in the 2014 elections. throw the bums out!
Why?? This seems so uncalled for. Michigan has been an example of well run cities, a booming middle class, low welfare, minimal corruption, managing budgets, and such amazing education statistics... I mean, given how deep the state's surplus has been for decades and the low average unemployment, this seems so needless....
It's also interesting to note that Republicans have been in control of the Legislature (and, for the past two years, the governorship) there during much of the recent decline in the state's fortunes.
why?
because you keep letting them.
what is unnecessary to you is impeding their program to have ALL the toys.
it would seem as if both parties have had their fair share of squandering and abusing the golden goose of Michigan. Unless of course, you want to take the position that the troubles only recently began?
Why indeed. Welcome to Michissippi. Everthing's up for sale to the highest bidder.
The Koch brothers are running ads touting the "freedom for workers" bill. Very, very sad times for the people of Michigan.
I wonder if the fat cats buying up public assets have thought that --
someday the voters may send people to the Legislature that will use "Public Domain" to forcibly buy them back for less?
It would serve them right.
And how about a new net worth tax. Make it 99.9% of all assets over $500 million.
What is sad about people having the right to choose to belong to a union or not? I thought this country was all about freedom. Obviously people are choosing not to belong, because union membership is not near what it used to be. Perhaps there is a reason for that. The right to work states are loving it when states keep their union status. Means more business and jobs for them. Companies can choose to pay more in the right to work states because they know that they will not be held hostage by the unions. There is a much more congenial atmosphere. Like voters choose, so do workers and more and more workers are choosing not to belong to unions. Workers are tired of being fleeced for dues money for the unions to support candidates and policies that workers might not be interested in supporting. If a person chooses to belong, then great and wonderful! Power to them. Like libs want choice for abortions, conservatives want right to work. No one is saying you can't belong to a union. They aren't taking your choice away.
Is this something that Michigan can ask Ohio to copy their petition and immediately (as possible) vote this b.s. law out?
And while you're at it, never vote for a Repub again until they stop their madness.
I have never voted for an R in my life.
Sandy Michigan law is such that votres cannot repeal any appropriations legislature. The republicans have slapped an appropriations rider onto this so that we can't repeal it.
I disagree with this law, but I'm not surprised by it. The republican controlled states around us have been doing the same, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana. What outrages me is their willful intent to usurp our democratic rights to have a say in this.
A "Tahrir moment" in Michigan?
How the hell is this not illegal? The legislative bodies work for US, not themselves. It is obvious that the people don't want it, and the move during a lame duck session shows the intent of party politics. The union members may rise up and commit some violence, and who could blame them? Look what happened in Pittsburgh, PA in the 1980's! Are people willing to stand by and let that happen again? If Gov. Scott was put in the hospital by union members, I wouldn't shed a tear for him. How can these GOP bastards do this? They get the legalese out mere minutes before a vote and the people are expected to just deal with it? I can feel a posse forming - at least there should be one.
Hey even though us Chicago Thug's are always accused using Baseball bat's, We use 110% Solidarity, No ball bat's, WE use our Voice, If that doesn't work, WE WALK.
EVERY Union in Michigan needs to withhold their services NOW!! Our services are our weapon & we should be using that weapon. STATEWIDE, ALL UNION STRIKE NOW!!
It's times like these when I wish I could pack up the car and drive to Michigan. A quiet revolution is taking place. Well, maybe not so quiet.
Everyone used to knock Calif but our state legislators (majority Dems) put in place new laws to protect woman's reproductive rights. We voters also voted to tax the rich higher and increase school money by billions. Locally we passed a 150 million bond issue to repair all schools and bring them all up to date with new computers. I feel for you guys in the GOP controlled states. You have to get hold of the Democrats and find out how to organize better and take back your state. GOP parents will suffer also with these stupid laws your legislators are creating. Just know that others care about how you are suffering. Contact aCLU and get some help!
...and we all know that raising the taxes on everyone has been doing an awesome job of keeping businesses firmly rooted in California. I for one, as a business in Arizona, have been greatly enjoying all of the new clients I have been making from recent move-ins fleeing California.
Ummm California taxes have been lowered in the past 30 years, not increased. What are you talking about?
And how does CA pay for all of those services? I hope that the rest of the nation's taxpayers aren't expected to bail out CA. All of those wonderful services cost money that the state doesn't have. CA, like our federal government, is broke and chooses not to live within its means.