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AFL-CIO leader talks job plan for Michigan and right to work

Michigan AFL-CIO president, Karla Swift.
Michigan AFL-CIO website.
Michigan AFL-CIO president, Karla Swift.

Governor Rick Snyder presents his second state of the state speech Wednesday night.

While the governor has expressed reluctance to pursue a right to work agenda, which would get rid of compulsory union dues, others in Republican leadership still express a desire to pursue that agenda.

Michigan AFL-CIO president, Karla Swift spoke with Michigan Radio's Jennifer White in advance of Gov. Snyder's State of the State address.

Swift said the AFL-CIO should be in Lansing "at the table with all of the stake holders in planning the future for Michigan."

According to Swift, the AFL-CIO's job plan looks at creating renewable energy jobs, investing in schools and ending "tax supported outsourcing of Michigan jobs."

"6 of the 10 states with the highest unemployment rates today are right-to-work states, so there’s no evidence that so called "right-to-work" legislation is going to increase employment," Swift said.

She added that if right to work legislation moves forward in the Michigan Legislature, "we will be leading the fight for protecting free bargaining rights for workers in Michigan and holding legislators accountable for their position on this issue."

 

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