LANSING, Mich. (AP) — In an audacious flex of political muscle, Republicans in a single day reached the brink of a goal that for years has seemed an all-but-impossible dream: making the labor bastion of Michigan a right-to-work state.
The GOP majority used its superior numbers and backing from Gov. Rick Snyder to ramrod legislation through the House and Senate on Thursday, brushing aside denunciations and walkouts by helpless Democrats and cries of outrage from union activists who swarmed the state Capitol hallways and grounds. At one point, police used pepper spray to subdue demonstrators who tried to rush the Senate chamber.
"Shame! Shame on you!" protesters chorused from the gallery as the Senate voted. Earlier, security guards removed a man who yelled, "Heil Hitler! Heil Hitler! That's what you people are." Another shouted, "We will remember in November."
The right-to-work laws would prohibit what are known as "closed shops," in which workers are required to join a union or pay fees that are equivalent to union dues as a condition of employment.
Michigan could become the 24th state with a right-to-work law next week. Rules require a five-day wait before the House and Senate vote on each other's bills; lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene Tuesday and Snyder has pledged to sign the bills into law.
Comments
How dare those nasty repubs give the employee a right to decide if they will spend their money on union representation or not. Unfathomable!
What this idiot doesn't understand is what's about to happen. When I lived in Florida it became a right to work state and at will. The result were rock bottom wages,with sky high unemployment. These rescumlicans are out to destroy the middle class. If you are a working person you have to be crazy to vote,for these dirtballs.
If the unions are as wonderful as they claim to be, they have nothing to worry about regarding membership loss.
gdog,
In case you are that stupid, the Valley has been ran by democrats and unions, and this is the result:
"Forbes Magazine: Youngstown-Warren-Boardman-Pa. the worst-paying area in US"
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/dec/04...
gdog,
Nice try moron. Check the BLS for latest unemployment statistics on right to work states vs. union states. I'll help you out with some other fun facts.
- Based on BLS data, over the past decade right to work states have gained 3.6 million jobs while non-right to work states have lost 900,000.
- It's been shown that right-to-work states as a whole, have a lower cost of living which attributes to lower wages. Additionally, it's been shown in some cases that after union dues, the difference is negligible.
- Various studies show that the amount of job opportunities are higher in RTW states due to the more 'business friendly' nature.
So.. idiot. Sip your kool-aid and check facts and statistics before spouting off nonsense.