Monday, December 17, 2012
Michigan's right-to-work law is due to take effect on March 31, 2013.
The effects of Michigan’s new right-to-work law won't be felt until 2015 for many of Macomb Township’s public sector unions. The new law, which prohibits public and private sector unions from requiring membership or dues from the workers they represent, is due to take effect March 31, 2013. However, the legislation exempts police and fire unions. Looking for more coverage? Check out our Right-to-Work page or sign up for the Macomb Township Patch e-newsletter. While the new law won’t affect existing union contracts, once contracts expire, employees won't be required to pay union dues, although they will still be covered by union-negotiated contracts along with those of their colleagues who elect to pay dues. Union contracts for Macomb …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Macomb Township's Republican state representatives voted against right-to-work legislation Tuesday, but both bills ultimately passed the House and were signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder.
Of all the right-to-work rhetoric exchanged in recent days, both sides seem to agree that the issue is, and probably always will be, "divisive." It was because of this divisiveness that Macomb Township State Rep. Anthony Forlini (R-District 24) said he chose to vote against right-to-work legislation supported by the vast majority of his party. Looking for more coverage? Check out our Right-to-Work page or sign up for the Macomb Patch e-newsletter. “It’s a divisive issue,” he said, in an earlier interview with Patch. “I’m not saying right-to-work doesn’t have merit, but I feel it would have been better as a ballot initiative. It shouldn’t be a Republican or Democratic issue just because one party or the other is in leadership." Macomb …
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The bills were signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday.
LANSING - People came from as close as down the street and as far as Chicago and Wisconsin, joining thousands of union members in a protest against right-to-work legislation Tuesday in Lansing. Looking for more coverage? Check out our Right-to-Work page or sign up for the Macomb Patch e-newsletter. Despite the roar of the crowds lining the lawn of the Capitol building and surrounding streets, two pieces of legislation passed by the Senate last week made their way through the state House of Representatives and were signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder Tuesday afternoon. 10,000 on the Capitol lawn Michigan State Police estimated that protesters at the Capitol numbered around 10,000 on Tuesday. Most were union members and supporters, while a …
Union representatives from Chippewa Valley and L'Anse Creuse schools joined protesters at the Capitol to speak out against right-to-work legislation Tuesday. Patch will be in Lansing, as well, posting live updates and video.
UPDATE: Shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday, the House passed a right-to-work bill for public employees by a vote of 58-51 and one for private sector workers by 58-52. Both right-to-work bills have already passed the Senate. The bills now await Gov. Rick Snyder's signature. Patch will provide live updates from Lansing today as the state Legislature considers right-to-work legislation. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced last week that he would put right-to-work on his agenda. To view this live feed from your mobile device, click here. Following Snyder's announcement, Republicans in the Legislature put bills forward in both houses, prompting protests in Lansing by union groups, including the UAW. Protests at the Capitol continue today as the …
Chippewa Valley and L'Anse Creuse's union presidents plan to join protestors at the state Capitol Tuesday to voice opposition to proposed right-to-work legislation.
Gov. Rick Snyder has said right to work is about "giving workers the freedom to choose,” but union presidents for Chippewa Valley and L’Anse Creuse schools view it more as a politically motivated attack on organized labor. Like other union supporters quoted in recent days, Chippewa Valley Education Association President Maryanne Levine draws a parallel between Lansing’s actions and those advocated by one of history’s most infamous figures. “We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers’ salaries and take away their right to strike," Levine quoted. "Those were the words of Adolf Hitler, May 2, 1933." “These are strong words, but that is exactly what they are doing and the path …
Monday, December 10, 2012
Legislation passed last week in the Michigan House and Senate could reach Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature by Tuesday. Leave a comment or upload a photo if you participate in related demonstrations!
Demonstrators took to the Capitol steps Monday in Lansing to sound off on right-to-work legislation that is poised to become law after Gov. Rick Snyder did an abrupt about-face on the issue last week and a series of related bills passed in the House and Senate. Larger protests are expected Tuesday when the legislation could reach Snyder's desk for his signature. Patch will be live-blogging from Lansing as the situation develops. [Are you participating in the demonstrations? Leave a comment, upload a photo or email Macomb Patch editor Jenny Whalen!] Read on for a description of each bill and to find out how lawmakers who represent Macomb Township voted. The legislation that would make Michigan a "right-to-work" state was passed 58 to 52 in …
UAW members and other unions are expected to protest at the state Capitol in Lansing today as the state Legislature considers proposed right-to-work legislation. Patch will be in Lansing, as well, posting live updates throughout the day.
Patch will provide live updates from Lansing today as the state Legislature considers right-to-work legislation. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced last week that he would put right-to-work on his agenda. Following Snyder's announcement, Republicans in the Legislature put bills forward in both houses, prompting protests in Lansing by union groups, including the UAW. More protests at the Capitol are expected today as the Legislature again takes up the proposed legislation. Check back throughout the day for the latest news and views from the Capitol, and let us know what you think by leaving a comment. Watch live video from various sources in Lansing, or join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #righttowork. How to join the …
Macomb Township's state representatives were among six Republicans to vote against right-to-work legislation passed in the state House last week. Comments made by residents in reaction to this news show Macomb divided on the issue.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Post your views on the proposed right-to-work legislation by adding it to the Local Voices section of Macomb Patch.
Do you have an opinion on the proposed right-to-work legislation? Then we would like you to let everyone know about it by sharing it on Macomb Patch. All you need to do is add your opinion—it could be as short as a sentence or as long as a term paper—to our Local Voices section. It’s quick and easy to do. Just click here to post your opinion. Whether you are for or against the right-to-work bills, we would love for you to share your voice with the Macomb community.
Macomb Township's state representatives were among six Republicans to vote against right-to-work legislation passed in the state House Thursday.
Macomb Township's representatives in the state House broke ranks with their Republican brethren Thursday, voting against right-to-work legislation now on the fast track to Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk. Within hours of Snyder’s Dec. 6 call for a "workplace fairness and equity" bill, also called right to work, legislators began voting on House Bill 4054, Senate Bill 116 and House Bill 4003. Looking for more news on this and other issues affecting Macomb Township? Get the Patch email newsletter. The bills now move to the chamber opposite from where they originated and could be passed as soon as Tuesday, at which point Snyder said he would sign the chosen version into law, making Michigan the 24th right-to-work state. The approved bill is slated to…
whatthefrack
12:05 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Wow! Incredible! I'd LOVE to see that on the evening news! But it'll never happen in our lifetime. What a bunch of animals. I hope no one was seriously injured. more ›