Tagged: right to work

Update 6:45 p.m.

A "Pure Michigan" ad in the Wall Street Journal caused quite the stir this week. It didn't feature sandy beaches, pretty golf courses, or fishing... but Michigan's new right-to-work law instead.

“We certainly understood that this was not an issue where there was unanimous support," Michael Finney, President of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said.

Governor Snyder says despite mounting political tension, his second year in office brought about many major accomplishments.

During a year-end roundtable with the press today, the governor touted a number of policies he says will move the state forward.

They include an agreement to build a new international crossing in Detroit, a phase-out of the state’s tax on industrial equipment, and a regional transit authority for southeast Michigan.

Snyder had to be asked before he made any mention of some of 2012’s controversies, including the new “right-to-work” law, and emergency managers.

He says lawmakers in 2013 should not let those issues get in the way of bipartisanship.

"That’s the start of the process to bring people back together, to say ‘we’re looking beyond just people saying they’re fighting, but we should be looking to service our citizens,’" said Snyder. "Because what really matters is customer service to our citizens, not hard feelings over some other particular issue."

The governor also said the “right-to-work” law is already attracting attention from businesses looking to move to Michigan.

Every Thursday we take a look at Michigan politics with Ken Sikkema, former senate majority leader and senior policy fellow at Public Sector Consultants, and Susan Demas political analyst for Michigan Information and Research Service. As a wrap up to the year they talk about the most important legislation that passed this year. Plus, they discuss Governor Snyder’s veto of legislation that would have allowed concealed pistols in school, day cares, and places of worship.

Two groups, police officers and firefighters, were exempt from the right-to-work legislation.

Rick Haglund of Bridge Magazine said the exemption dates back to the late 1960's.

“Police and firefighters have a special recognition under state law called Public Act 312, which prevents firefighters and police officers from striking. It goes back to 1969, and the person who introduced the legislation was Coleman Young, who at that time was a State Senator," he said.

This act prevented them from striking but gave them binding arbitration.

However, those opposed to right-to-work are still wondering why these  groups were exempt.

According to Haglund, they have reason to be curious.

“It turns out that Michigan is the only state that does this. There are no other right-to-work states that do a carve out for police and fire,” said Haglund.

For more of Haglund's interview, listen to our above podcast.

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