collective bargaining

Collective bargaining rights could be enshrined in Michigan's Constitution

Mark Brush — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Voters in Michigan could make some big changes to the Michigan Constitution on November 6th. They’ll decide on five proposed amendments to Michigan’s guiding legal document.

Proposal 2 would enshrine collective bargaining rights in the state Constitution.

Those supporting Proposal 2 say they’re just trying to protect workers’ rights. Labor unions around the Midwest have been feeling squeezed. The legislature in Wisconsin stripped public sector workers of their collective bargaining rights.

Stakes are high in Michigan's Proposal 2 campaign

Mark Brush — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 21:28:23 +0000

Michigan's Proposal 2 ballot campaign is being watched across the country. The proposal seeks to enshrine collective bargaining rights for public and private employees into the Michigan Constitution.

Steven Greenhouse wrote about the implications of Michigan's Proposal 2 in a recent New York Times piece.

Snyder: Proposal 2 is not a referendum on right-to-work laws

Rick Pluta — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 22:16:00 +0000

Governor Rick Snyder says Proposal 2 should not be viewed as a referendum on whether Michigan becomes a right-to-work state that outlaws compulsory union membership.

Proposal 2 would guarantee collective bargaining rights in the state constitution.

Governor Snyder opposes Proposal 2. He says it not only guarantees collective bargaining, but would be a sweeping re-write of labor laws as they deal with public employees.

“Proposal 2 could be devastating, in my view, of what it could do to the economic recovery in Michigan, but people need to make their own assessment of how to vote,” he said.

But he said rejecting the proposal would not convince him Michigan is ready to become a right-to-work state.

“I don’t view it as just a green light to go ahead,” he said.

The governor has asked the Legislature to stay away from the right-to-work debate because it’s too divisive. But he has not said what he would do if the Legislature sent a bill to his desk.

One of the leading proponents of right to work in the Legislature says he won’t push the issue until he has the governor’s support.

6 things to know about Proposal 2; Collective bargaining

Mark Brush — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:49:48 +0000

Michigan voters are faced with a choice:

Should the right to collective bargaining for all Michigan workers be enshrined in the Michigan Constitution?

The amendment would affect the rights of workers in private companies and workers in the public sector.

If you work for a private company, the right to collectively bargain is upheld by federal law (the National Labor Relations Act). But the NLRA does not cover government workers.

Commentary: Collective bargaining

Jack Lessenberry — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:19:16 +0000

There are five proposed constitutional amendments on the state ballot this fall, and at this point, it is impossible to predict whether any of them will pass or fail.

But I do think I know which will provoke the most spending: Proposal Two, the amendment that would make collective bargaining a state constitutional right. Unions are going to spend millions to try to get it passed. Chambers of commerce and corporate interests are likely to spend even more to try to make sure it fails. This is seen to some extent as a Battle of Stalingrad for the union movement.

Michigan AG weighs in on collective bargaining ballot proposal ruling

Steve Carmody — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:25:00 +0000

The Michigan Court of Appeals said a proposed ballot question to put collective bargaining rights in the state’s constitution should be put before voters in November.

The court ruled today that the petition campaign collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Opponents are expected to file an appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Attorney General Bill Schuette is among those opposed to the ‘Protect Our Jobs’ amendment.

He said the proposal’s potential effect is too complex for the simple wording of a constitutional amendment.

Michigan high court orders lower court to rule on "Protect Our Jobs" ballot proposal

Mark Brush — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:40:14 +0000

The Michigan Supreme Court ordered the Court of Appeals to issue a ruling by Monday on whether the "Protect Our Jobs" constitutional amendment proposal should go on the November ballot.

The referendum seeks to to protect collective bargaining rights in Michigan.

Court of Appeals weighs in on "Protect Our Jobs" ballot question

Steve Carmody — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:53:19 +0000

The Michigan Court of Appeals hears arguments tomorrow over whether a ballot initiative to enshrine collective bargaining rights in the state constitution should be on the November ballot.

Michigan Court of Appeals to hear worker rights proposal

Mark Brush — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 20:49:09 +0000

More ballot measure news today as Michigan voters face a November election that will likely include about a half a dozen ballot measures.

The Michigan Court of Appeals will hear arguments next week from supporters and opponents of a ballot measure that seeks to add collective bargaining rights for workers into the state constitution.

A group called Protect Our Jobs collected nearly 700,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot. The group Citizens Protecting Michigan's Constitution challenged the petition, saying the ballot proposal was unconstitutionally broad.

In an order released today, the court says oral arguments in the case will be heard Wednesday in Lansing.

An appeal to the court was made after the Board of State Canvassers deadlocked 2-2 this week on the Protect Our Jobs ballot proposal.

Race is on to impose contract terms on Detroit city unions

Sarah Cwiek — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:31:18 +0000

The race is on to impose new contracts on Detroit’s city unions, and city officials made the case for doing that before the Detroit City Council on Monday.

Detroit’s consent agreement with the state essentially allows it to get around the collective bargaining process.

Mayor Dave Bing has proposed new contract terms that will cut wages by 10 percent and drastically change work rules for most city workers.

But that’s not all. City officials also want the power to alter contract terms at almost any point.

Elections officials refuse to block ballot question

Rick Pluta — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:36:17 +0000

The state Court of Appeals could be the next stop for a business group that’s trying to keep a proposal to protect collective bargaining off the November ballot. That’s after state elections officials said they don’t have the legal authority to block the question.

The business-backed group Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution asked the Secretary of State to rule a question not eligible to appear on the ballot – even though the union-backed petition drive collected 650,000 names. That’s double the number needed. But the business group says the question itself is broad and sweeping when it should be narrow in scope.

The ballot question would amend the state constitution to guarantee collective bargaining rights and preempt a right-to-work law in Michigan. It would also roll back Republican-sponsored efforts to limit union fundraising and organizing.

The state’s election director says in a letter that the law does not give the Secretary of State the authority to unilaterally declare a question invalid. Attorneys say they may seek a court order to keep the question off the ballot.

Grand Rapids City not willing to narrow abortion coverage for city employees

Lindsey Smith — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 06:48:36 +0000

Despite some public pressure, Grand Rapids City Commissioners declined to support a proposal that would restrict abortion coverage for city workers. A group turned in more than a thousand signatures in favor of the proposal last month.

Health insurance for Grand Rapids city workers does not cover any elective surgeries. So abortions are only covered when deemed “medically necessary”. The proposal would’ve defined that to mean only in cases of rape, incest and to protect the health of the mother.

Troy protest targets controversial Wisconsin Governor

Sarah Cwiek — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:55:34 +0000

Protesters lined a busy thoroughfare in Troy Tuesday evening.

Attendees pulling into the parking lot at the San Marino Club for the Ronald Reagan Memorial Dinner were booed by the protesters, who were there to protest Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s appearance at the Oakland County Republican fundraiser.

Detroit union coalition wins a day in court; another legal hurdle for consent agreement?

Sarah Cwiek — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:33:15 +0000

A coalition of Detroit city unions has won a hearing in Ingham County Circuit Court.

The unions want a proposed consent agreement between Detroit and the state thrown out because of alleged Open Meetings Act violations.

They say state and city leaders inappropriately met on 44 separate occasions to draft the proposed consent agreement now being considered by the Detroit City Council.

Collective bargaining ballot question goes before state election board

Rick Pluta — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:49:52 +0000

A union-led effort to amend the Michigan Constitution to guarantee labor bargaining rights will go before a state elections panel today.

The Protect Our Jobs campaign will ask the Board of State Canvassers to pre-approve its petition to get on the November ballot.