Right to Work is WRONG for Michigan
February 25, 2011 - On the second day of the 2011 legislative session, seven Republican members of the Michigan House introduced right-to-work legislation allowing the creation of right-to-work zones in a city, county, township, village, public school district, or an intermediate school districts. Although the proposed legislation, HB 4054, would only effect public employees, Local 951 is actively fighting its passage.
"Right-to-work is not good public policy whether it is state-wide, in a zone, or limited to public sector employees," Marv Russow Local 951's president, said. "The data repeatedly shows that all workers and their communities suffer under right-to-work. In right-to-work states, all workers earn less, have fewer benefits and less rights on-the-job. Plus, communities suffer as the lower tax base means less money to provide vital services."
The local cautions members against believing Republicans will be satisfied with limiting right-to-work laws to public employees.
"We expected public employees to be the Republicans first target, and anticipated attacks on their wages and benefits, HB 4054 is part of that attack," Russow said. "The bill also serves as a gauge to see how much opposition there is to the Republican's ultimate goal of making Michigan a right-to-work state. Our job is to show them that the people of Michigan are not interested in having their wages, benefits and overall quality of life lowered by right-to-work.
Right to Work Is Work for Less
May 19 , 2011 - Governor Snyder passed a bill giving government total control of school, township and community boards. It also gives the Governor authroity to eliminate and adjust collective bargaining agreements. Rachel Maddow breaks down this damaging legislation making it clear the Governor is using a fiscal crises as a vehicle to fullfill his promise to big business.
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Write Your Legislators
Writing personal accounts of the benefits of a union contract have impact. Now is the time to share your voice on anti-worker legislative measures that will have a negative impact on the middle class and all working people.
www.house.michigan.gov www.senate.michigan.gov
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Worker Watchdog - Understanding Right to Work
Given the choice, most members may opt out of paying annual union dues that are deducted from their paycheck. By only looking at the short-term benefit, saving a couple dollars each week, greatly underestimates and ignores the long-term issue that will inevitably grow.
The long-term issue is that once a company has the majority of its workers not paying dues, less and less strength is in the bargaining unit. When negotiations begin for the language of a new contract, the company will have the upper hand at the bargaining table, and the contractual languages will be greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
Without a say during bargaining,
workers will no longer have a voice at work and will lose hundreds and thousands of dollars of protections and benefits. The company, however only stands to gain on their bottom line by reducing benefits.