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.

Email me at grassroots at comcast dot net.

Afternoon of poetry features nationally renowned authors

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FitzgeraldTimothy Donnelly (left) and Adam Fitzgerald (right) were the featured readers at the monthly poetry series, sponsored by the South Brunswick Arts Commission, at the South Brunswick Library on Sunday, Dec. 9. For more on the series, including the upcoming schedule, contact Hank Kalet at otherhalf@comcast.net.

Ballot is better than nothing

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora has decided to take Gov. Chris Christie up on his offer with legislation that would put the question of marriage equality before voters in November.

Gusciora, the first openly gay man in the state Legislature, has up until now been opposed

to putting a civil rights question like marriage equality up to a popular vote. But the Assemblyman — New Jersey’s first openly gay legislator — said his constituents asked him to change his mind in light of last month’s election results.

“I am the last person who believes civil rights should be on the ballot, but civil rights delayed is civil rights denied,” Gusciora said. “The timing is right. There is broader acceptance.”

Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality has remained opposed — I haven’t talked to him since Gusciora introduced the bill, but he has been adamant in his opposition to a referendum.

I’m with Gusciora on this. The political realities in the state preclude advancement of marriage equality through the Legislature. The governor is opposed, but has promised not to stand in the way of a referendum. There are a handful of Republicans who support marriage equality, but they are unlikely to buck the governor, meaning that there will not be enough votes to override.

So the ballot seems the only option and, given the recent successes in Maine and Maryland, along with the polling, this seems the best approach.

Email me at grassroots at comcast dot net.