Amid union protests as they attempted to storm the doors of the Michigan Senate, both the Michigan House and Senate Thursday passed measures that would prevent unions from collecting dues from non-union workers.
(PDF of the right-to-work measure as passed by the Michigan Senate will be embedded at the bottom of this post)
Via Chicago-Tribune:
Just hours after they were introduced, both chambers approved measures prohibiting private unions from requiring that nonunion employees pay fees. The Senate quickly followed by voting to impose the same requirement on most public unions.
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder told reporters he would sign the measures when the hit his desk.
Once signed Michigan would be the 24th right-to-work state in the country
Via Detroit News:
The package can't reach final completion until at least Tuesday because of procedural rules that require a five-day layover for two of the bills before they can be voted on in the other chamber.
That gives opponents more time to lobby against the legislation, like they did Thursday starting in the early morning when word spread the bills would be introduced, to late evening when the Senate finally adjourned.
The historic legislation passed over the thunderous chanting from thousands of workers who descended on the Capitol, resulting in at least eight arrests and a temporary lockdown of the building by Michigan State Police. Democrats in both chambers staged walkouts and procedural maneuvers to stall passage while workers protested in and outside the Capitol.
More:
Thursday's actions also come a month after voters defeated a statewide referendum that would have enshrined collective bargaining rights in the state constitution. Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, denied the November vote was a mandate for right to work.From page #5 of the measure as passed by the Michigan Senate on December 6, 2012:
(1) AN INDIVIDUAL SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED AS A CONDITION OF OBTAINING OR CONTINUING EMPLOYMENT TO DO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(A) REFRAIN OR RESIGN FROM MEMBERSHIP IN, VOLUNTARY AFFILIATION WITH, OR VOLUNTARY FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF A LABOR ORGANIZATION.
(B) BECOME OR REMAIN A MEMBER OF A LABOR ORGANIZATION.
(C) PAY ANY DUES, FEES, ASSESSMENTS, OR OTHER CHARGES OR EXPENSES OF ANY KIND OR AMOUNT OR PROVIDE ANYTHING OF VALUE TO A LABOR ORGANIZATION.
(D) PAY TO ANY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION OR THIRD PARTY AN AMOUNT THAT IS IN LIEU OF, EQUIVALENT TO, OR ANY PORTION OF DUES, FEES, ASSESSMENTS, OR OTHER CHARGES OR EXPENSES REQUIRED OF MEMBERS OF OR EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY A LABOR ORGANIZATION.
One last thought before listing the states that already have right-to-work laws and embedding the bill - It amazes me to see liberals bitterly complaining about how the Michigan GOP "jammed" the bill through against the opposition party (Dems) when they applauded that very tactic when Obama and the Democratically led House and Senate "jammed" Obamacare through without Republican support and against the majority of Americans that opposed and still oppose Obamacare.
Liberal hypocrisy, gotta love it.
The following states are right-to-work states that Michigan will join once Snyder signs these measures: (States linked to the specific law)
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Mississippi
Nebraska
Nevada
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Wyoming
Michigan Right to Work Bill As Passed By The Senate