Michigan lawmakers pass bill to repeal "right to work" - Whitmer to sign

[FireUpChips10]

Last edited Tue Mar 14, 2023, 08:42 PM - Edit history (1)

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First time in 60 years that a state has repealed its "right to work" law.

And it's all because Democrats control the legislature and the governorship.

[RandySF]

1. HOORAAYYY!!!!!!!!

[jimfields33]

9. Now what happens? Everyone will have dues taken from paycheck?

It will strengthen unions but hopefully they understand that money is tight and work with the current workers who are new to this.

[RandySF]

11. If you work in a union shop and your job class is unionized, you pay dues.

[jimfields33]

14. I just read some about unions.

It’s not nearly as expensive as I thought. If you make 20 bucks an hour, you pay 50 bucks a paycheck. That’s not terrible.

[NullTuples]

21. And you're likely going to make up the difference, thanks to the union's bargaining power

[jimfields33]

26. Very true.

[kimmylavin]

27. My husband and I are both union. (IATSE)

His quarterly dues work out to about seven hours of work.
Mine are even less.

For the healthcare ALONE, it's totally worth it.

[DemocraticPatriot]

15. As I have read, union dues paid will have a 100% state tax credit repaying them,

a stroke of genius for the Democrats, making the cost of union dues, net zero!

(and yes, they would once again be automatically withdrawn from paychecks.)


State Republicans are howling in pain....

but recall, the governor at the time, Rick Schneider, promised not to sign any 'right to work' legislation--
but later conveniently changed his mind.


I don't want to hear any Republican bullshit about "naked political power grabs"--
they are the ones who taught us how to play the game!!!!

[jimfields33]

18. That's true. They don't have a hope to win a complaint.

[pamdb]

2. RTW

The thing about RTW is that if someone decides they don't want to join the union and not pay union dues, they still get the benefit of anything in the contract negotiations. I was a union steward at a city and we had one person who didn't want to actually join the union so he wouldn't have to pay union dues, but every time we negotiated the contract and if there was a raise, or an increase
in vacation time or sick time or whatever, he got all the benefits but didn't have to pay for them. That is just not right. What I
used to say was, if you don't want to join the union, fine, but if we negotiate any increase in benefits, YOU DON'T GET THEM. If you want a raise or any increase in benefits, you go talk to management, you're on your own.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

6. Exactly

Not paying and still getting the benefits was never right. Don't want to join, fine. Forced membership shouldn't be a thing. But neither should you be able to freeload off the benefits.

[SouthernDem4ever]

17. this is a major problem if you happen to be in a union in a southeastern state

a whole bunch of freeloaders, and union members that keep voting for morons trying to get rid of their union rights which translated means less pay, no benefits, no pension, etc.

[NullTuples]

22. Why does it work that way? It doesn't seem right...

[GoCubsGo]

3. Good for them! I hope they started a trend.

I am glad that Michigan has decided to longer subject their citizens to "Right to Work for Less."

[Laffy Kat]

4. Yes!!!

Wish we had a union emoji.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

5. Right to Slavery laws cancelled! For second time around.

[wendyb-NC]

7. Yay!

That is an amazing accomplishment. Every state that has right to work laws needs to do that.

[Sky Jewels]

8. Michigan has been kicking ass and taking names!

A model for all swing states!

[Takket]

10. it is "right to work for less"

"right to work" is rethug branding. AFL/CIO should not be using that term.

[NBachers]

12. This ex-Kalamazooan likes likes what he sees coming out of Michigan these days!

Finally, Michigan's potential is being realized!

[NBachers]

13. Michigan - the Non-Florida

[DownriverDem]

20. A Petition drive

put new district lines drawn by a citizen committee changed a lot. We used a petition drive to change our voting laws too. The Dems are working at high speed to keep their election promises. Promises made, promises kept.

[republianmushroom]

16. I like it

[DownriverDem]

19. Previous governor

lied to us and this was done at night. it really bugged me that someone could refuse to join a union but get all the benefits of being in a union. Michigan is doing such good things.

[DemocraticPatriot]

23. This legislation is the direct result of Michigan's elimination of partisan gerrymandering,

giving us fair legislative districts in this state, negating Republican control of redistricting for the first time in 40 years...


With fair competitive districts, Democrats win Michigan!


Despite a few sometimes strange results, this has been a Democratic state overall, dating back to the 1960s, and it still is!

The Democrats have held both of the state's senate seats since the 1970s, except for a one-term loss to a Republican in the 1994 "red wave", and sometimes loss of the governorship...

We have voted Democratic for President since 1992-- except for the 2016 Trump victory by a few thousand votes, which was an aberration which *might* have resulted from the Dem nominee taking the state for granted... in any case, i was greatly surprised and shamed that year-- even though I stood in line to vote for her for about 30 minutes....

Bernie Sanders won the Democratic primary here in 2016, by a hair, in an open primary allowing independents to vote in either primary, and I supported him then--- but I voted for our nominee in the general election, and with enthusiasm-- but I am a lifelong Democrat. It seemed to me that Trump was able to capture many of the 'angry independents'-- and the Democratic "all-white ticket" depressed the AA vote, which allowed Trump to win the popular vote here in 2016...

(Afterwards, I realized that there were very few AA voters standing in line to vote in my precinct, when there should have been many more... but I did not realize it at the time. However, it had been my position that the nominee should have found an African-American running mate-- especially right after President Obama--- I think I was quite right.)


Anyway, God Bless the Democratic victory, and our transformation back to a pro-union state!


And state Republicans, I eat your tears with pure joy! Cry some more!!

[Scrivener7]

24. This is HUGE!!! Great news!!!

[Bluethroughu]

25. Time for a State Constitutional Amendment like IL!

[roamer65]

28. A proud Michigander here.