Michigan targets its union workers

Michigan’s state Legislature has approved a measure designed to weaken the state’s unions.

As reported in the Detroit News, a Republican-backed bill that would make Michigan the 24th right-to-work state in the country. The legislation — which is expected to be signed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder — would end the requirement that employees
join unions in their workplace or “pay fees comparable to union dues to be employed.”

Supporters have argued that the legislation would expand worker freedom, but the legislation is likely to have the opposite effect, undercutting what is left of union power and lessening unions’ ability to negotiate for workers.

The bill essentially would allow workers to forego joining — and funding –unions in their workplace, but would still allow them to enjoy whatever benefits the union might be able to win at the bargaining table. Essentially, this would mean that two people on the same assembly line would earn the same wages and get the same pension and health benefits, but only the union member would be contributing to the organization that makes those benefits possible.

Despite the rhetoric, workers are not the winners here. They’re the losers. Big business and the Republican Party — they’re the real winners.

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet