Posted on 12/07/2012 6:33:49 AM PST by Red Badger
Michigan Republicans touched off a firestorm Thursday with an abrupt push to pass right-to-work legislation, in what would be a blow to organized labor in the home of the U.S. auto industry.
Right-to-work legislation prohibits unions from forcing workers to pay union dues. Unions and their Democratic allies adamantly oppose these laws -- but with little warning, Michigan Republicans on Thursday laid the groundwork to, in a matter of days, make their state the 24th with right-to-work legislation.
"This is all about taking care of the hard-working workers in Michigan, being pro-worker and giving them freedom to make choices," Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said. "The goal isn't to divide Michigan, it is to bring Michigan together."
The votes Thursday, though, drew hundreds of union-tied protesters to the capital, some of whom were pepper-sprayed by police when they tried to storm the Senate chamber.
Just hours after the bills were introduced, both Republican-controlled chambers approved measures prohibiting private unions from requiring dues. The Senate quickly followed by voting to impose the same requirement on most public unions.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
This story has made my day!!
It has all the elements I would NEVER expect from Republicans nowadays.
1.) Actually using the leverage they have to pass
conservative measures.
2.) Cleverness and surprise in planning.
3.) The plan is well executed with some unapologetic head
knocking mixed in.
Seriously I still can’t believe these are Republicans doing this. Awesome!!
Bravo Governor Snyder, Lt. Gov. Calley and all Republicans in the legislature!!
My cousin is an up and coming union leader. He was posting pics of himself in his cute little yellow vest in Lansing yesterday.
He’s in complete denial. He believes Obama is coming to Michigan to seize control and issue a Royal decree. I just tell him that Obama doesn’t need him anymore.
Time to fully enforce the Never Go South of Birch Run Rule for those of us who live in the northern nether regions.
The faculty at the college in Maine where I teach is represented by the Maine State Employees Association which is part of the SEIU. At least some of them are flying to Michigan for the week to try to prevent the law from coming into effect.
(I am president of the faculty union and about 1/2of our members are conservatives-so it has been a real treat dealing with the SEIU.) Our new field rep came from Wisconsin!!
I believe the royal decree part.
The Michigan legislature has actually been doing a lot of good things quietly (as well as some typical crap)
Senate Bill 1276, Restrict setting aside state land for “biological diversity”: Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate
To prohibit the Department of Natural Resources from designating an area of land specifically for the purpose of achieving “biological diversity.”
Senate Bill 1238, Revise state land acquisition procedures: Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate
To revise the procedures and criteria for the acquisition by the state of property paid for with Natural Resources Trust Fund money. Among other things, the bill would impose term limits on members of the NRTC board, require more transparency in its property selection process, and ban sales if the seller was harassed, intimidated, or coerced by the Department of Natural Resources, a local government, or a “qualified” conservation organization.
Senate Bill 1335, Increase threshold to impose new government workplace safety rules: Passed 25 to 12 in the Senate
To require the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to not just assert that there is a “clear and convincing need” to impose on employers a new occupational health and safety regulation that exceeds federal standards, but to actually provide a statement of the specific facts used to support the assertion, and show the rule was requested by a broad consensus of employers and employees in an affected industry.
2012 House Bill 5785: Ban “Agenda 21” implementation.
Introduced by Rep. Greg MacMaster (R) on July 18, 2012, to prohibit any Michigan governmental entity from adopting or implementing policy recommendations originating in or traceable to the United Nations “Agenda 21” or any other international laws that infringe or restrict private property rights without due process. Also, to prohibit governments from entering into a contract for services with, paying any money to, or receiving money from a nongovernmental or intergovernmental organizations enlisted to assist in implementing “Agenda 21”.
Senate Bill 1021, Increase state property tax payments to locals: Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate To increase from $2 per acre to $4 per acre the amount the state pays to local governments as “payment in lieu of (property) taxes” (PILT) on state-owned land in their jurisdictions, and index the amount to inflation going forward.
As a former Michigan resident, color me stunned.
(can’t really call myself a Michigander being originally from that “O” place to the south...)
So what exactly is the unions’ “front” argument against allowing people the right to choose whether they join a union or not instead of being forced to?
The unions don’t really have an argument other than the lie that it outlaws unions. If anyone tries to tell them that they just start the childish chanting “Hey Ho, right to work has got to go”.
Anything to keep people from hearing the truth.
Reminds me of a feminist/leftist who slipped and told the truth:
“Women should not be allowed the choice to stay at home with their kids precisely because so many would choose to do so.”
Good points.
I guess it’s that this was a hot button, high profile issue that Republicans usually reflexively shy away from so it’s great to see this, especially after all the other measures they’ve taken that you have mentioned.
If labor unions are so wonderful for their members, why should the union bosses fear the loss of coercion so much? Why can’t they trust that potential members will see the value of the union and voluntarily pay dues in exchange for the benefits they receive?
Labor unions have long since outlived there usefulness. In the beginning they were necessary to actually redress grievances that the workers were being exploited and unfairly treated, unsafe working conditions, etc. Those have all been taken care of with laws and regulations that the unions themselves helped put in place.
So now, with no actual problems to solve they have to create them. They have devolved from a honorable institution to a criminal one. Corruption is rampant and their political backers, or should I say political puppets, look the other way. It really is and incestuous relationship they have with the Democrats and Republicans. The unions have become that which they were trying to defeat in the first place...........
That may be the polite thing to say, but I don’t think unions have ever been the noble defender of the downtrodden worker. From day 1 - or close to it - they were just as abusive and manipulative as the corporate bosses they were invented to fight.
Not to say that the ability to strike or collectively bargain is necessarily a bad thing, but a union is just a “my bully vs. your bully” situation. And bullies are often good at finding new targets to pick on when the old ones go away...
It’s just like the IRA and the UVF in northern Ireland. They have devolved into criminal enterprises exactly like the Mafia, requiring businesses to pay both sides an extortion fee just for being allowed to do business......
“So what exactly is the unions’ “front” argument against allowing people the right to choose whether they join a union or not instead of being forced to?”
It goes like this: “If you don’t do what we want, we will kick down doors, beat you up, and burn stuff that you like.”
A standing head, as they used say in the newspaper biz.
In the meantime, congrats to Governor Snyder, whom many here had dismissed as a RINO.
Now that same Michigan legislature - and other GOP legislatures around the country - should reform their state election law to clamp down on fraud and cheating. It's not only the right thing to do, but the only thing to do, because if they neglect election fraud problem, the unions will find a way to fix the next election to put their their 'Rat pals in their seats.
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