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
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 …
Friday, December 7, 2012
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…
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Gov. Rick Snyder announced Thursday that he would like to see right-to-work legislation on his desk before the end of this year's legislative session.
Michigan could very well be a right-to-work state in 2013 following Gov. Rick Snyder's call to action Thursday for the state legislature to pass a "workplace fairness and equity" bill in the next few days. Despite throngs of protesters on the Capitol lawn and in the lobby of the governor's headquarters, Snyder went ahead with the press conference Thursday morning to urge legislators to get a right-to-work bill on his desk before the holiday break. In a new Pure Michigan ad published today on YouTube, Snyder says his decision to pursue such legislation is "about being pro-work and giving workers the freedom to choose who they associate with." Although this legislation would cover both the public and private sectors, there would be an …
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 ›