Michigan: The Next Union Battleground
There is a proposition on the November ballot in Michigan called the “Protect Our Jobs Amendment”, which would give unions near veto power of all contract disputes. This proposed measure comes at a critical time when huge budget deficits are forcing taxpayers to rethink the value of government sector unions. According to the Makinac Center this measure would implement the following:
- Enshrine collective bargaining in the state constitution.
- Would apply almost entirely to government unions, since private-sector unions are governed by federal law.
- Make government union bargaining sessions into a super-legislature, allowing union contracts to overrule laws made by elected representatives.
- Would give labor unions the ability to repeal many of the reforms that have helped Michigan start to turn the corner after a decade of malaise. Elected representatives would be legislatively powerless to stop them.
- A right-to-work law would be legislatively impossible. Unionized Michigan workers could not keep their jobs if they refused to make union contributions.
This legislation would cause irreparable damage to the state of Michigan. All across the country, we are witnessing the unions’ attempt to raise wages and benefits to unheard of levels. The taxpayers of Michigan need to stand up and make their voices heard so they aren’t held hostage the next time the unions decide they want a raise.
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