Economics Michigan bills weakening union power signed into law - Page 2

ChiefsandO'sfan · 12-11-2012, 04:40 PM

LANSING, MICH. (CNNMoney)
As protesters descended on the Michigan Statehouse Tuesday, two controversial "right-to-work" measures that would weaken unions' power were signed into law.

The House approved two bills, which the Senate already passed last week. Both chambers are dominated by Republicans.

On Tuesday evening. Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, signed the legislation, which allows workers at union-represented employers to forgo paying dues.

Thousands of people, many of them union workers, gathered outside the statehouse, chanting and holding signs as snow fell. At least three schools were closed as teachers traveled to Lansing to protest.

There are 23 states which have right-to-work laws, mostly in the South and western plains states, where union membership is relatively weak. Nationwide, union membership stands at 11.8%.

Related: Check union membership in your state

Michigan, the birthplace of the United Auto Workers where 17.5% of employees are represented by unions, would be by far the most heavily unionized state to pass such legislation. It would join neighboring Indiana in converting to right-to-work this year.

"It would devastate the workers," UAW President Bob King told CNN Tuesday morning. "We're worried about all workers in the state of Michigan."

Advocates of the bill say it will help attract businesses to the state, but critics say that it would weaken labor's bargaining strength by cutting union financial resources without doing anything to bring in more jobs.

Related: Michigan vote could be big blow to labor

Employees in right-to-work states have lower wages, on average, than their counterparts elsewhere, according to Richard Hurd, professor of labor studies at the ILR School at Cornell University. That's because the unions are weaker in those states and aren't as effective in bargaining for higher wages. Only two-thirds of workers join unions in right-to-work states, on average.

The average full-time, full-year worker in a right-to-work state makes about $1,500 less annually, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning organization. The rate of workers covered by employer-sponsored health insurance is 2.6 percentage points lower, while pension coverage is 4.8 percentage points lower.

Related: Top 8 union jobs

Right-to-work states have done better in terms of growing jobs, according to State Budget Solutions, an advocacy group that supported the measure. Right-to-work states saw employment expand by 8.2% between 2001 and 2010, while those without the law experienced a 0.5% decrease, according to the group's analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.

The measure's passage would symbolize the declining fortunes of the nation's once powerful union movement. Only four states have passed right-to-work laws since the 1960s.

"If right-to-work passes in Michigan, it demonstrates the weakness of the labor movement," Hurd said. "If it can happen in Michigan, there's a feeling it can happen anywhere."

CNNMoney's Chris Isidore and CNN's Poppy Harlow and Alison Kosik contributed to this report. To top of page

Fish · 12-11-2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

Those teachers who skipped work and closed down those schools to protest should be fired.

I believe it is there right according to their union contract to protest.

Munson · 12-11-2012, 05:35 PM

Great news. The unions are pissed because they know that if workers are given a choice, the majority of them would rather keep their hard earned money.

HonestChieffan · 12-11-2012, 06:23 PM

Union Teacher in front of sign.....Snyder misspelled. Sweet.

**Mr. Kotter** · 12-11-2012, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Union Teacher in front of sign.....Snyder misspelled. Sweet.

Photoshop by RWNJ types?

**RNR** · 12-11-2012, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Union Teacher in front of sign.....Snyder misspelled. Sweet.

listopencil · 12-12-2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

Photoshop by RWNJ types?

How can you tell if it has been shopped?

mnchiefsguy · 12-12-2012, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonedstooge

Not if the school board approved it. In Missouri in the early 90's the school I worked at shut down and protested in Jefferson City

If the school board approved it, then they should all be voted out of office.

**RNR** · 12-12-2012, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

So average $1500 less per year in right to work states. What do annual union dues amount to?

Look at the cost of living in states that are right to work vs no right to work states~

HonestChieffan · 12-12-2012, 10:45 PM

Detroit Teachers w/$71,000 Salaries Leave Work to Protest, While Only 7 Percent of their Students Can Read.....

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/dgreenf...ents-can-read/

HonestChieffan · 12-13-2012, 07:06 AM

King_Chief_Fan · 12-13-2012, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

So average $1500 less per year in right to work states. What do annual union dues amount to?

last I heard.....data is a couple of years old, but it averaged 2% of base pay.

**patteeu** · 12-13-2012, 07:35 AM

Unemployment tends to be lower in right to work states.

**RNR** · 12-13-2012, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

Unemployment tends to be lower in right to work states.

As does the cost of living~

Prison Bitch · 12-13-2012, 05:51 PM

The voters in Michigan shot down several pro-union ballot issues in November. The people spoke.

12-11-2012, 04:40 PM
ChiefsandO'sfan MVP Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $1369604	Michigan bills weakening union power signed into law LANSING, MICH. (CNNMoney) As protesters descended on the Michigan Statehouse Tuesday, two controversial "right-to-work" measures that would weaken unions' power were signed into law. The House approved two bills, which the Senate already passed last week. Both chambers are dominated by Republicans. On Tuesday evening. Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, signed the legislation, which allows workers at union-represented employers to forgo paying dues. Thousands of people, many of them union workers, gathered outside the statehouse, chanting and holding signs as snow fell. At least three schools were closed as teachers traveled to Lansing to protest. There are 23 states which have right-to-work laws, mostly in the South and western plains states, where union membership is relatively weak. Nationwide, union membership stands at 11.8%. Related: Check union membership in your state Michigan, the birthplace of the United Auto Workers where 17.5% of employees are represented by unions, would be by far the most heavily unionized state to pass such legislation. It would join neighboring Indiana in converting to right-to-work this year. "It would devastate the workers," UAW President Bob King told CNN Tuesday morning. "We're worried about all workers in the state of Michigan." Advocates of the bill say it will help attract businesses to the state, but critics say that it would weaken labor's bargaining strength by cutting union financial resources without doing anything to bring in more jobs. Related: Michigan vote could be big blow to labor Employees in right-to-work states have lower wages, on average, than their counterparts elsewhere, according to Richard Hurd, professor of labor studies at the ILR School at Cornell University. That's because the unions are weaker in those states and aren't as effective in bargaining for higher wages. Only two-thirds of workers join unions in right-to-work states, on average. The average full-time, full-year worker in a right-to-work state makes about $1,500 less annually, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning organization. The rate of workers covered by employer-sponsored health insurance is 2.6 percentage points lower, while pension coverage is 4.8 percentage points lower. Related: Top 8 union jobs Right-to-work states have done better in terms of growing jobs, according to State Budget Solutions, an advocacy group that supported the measure. Right-to-work states saw employment expand by 8.2% between 2001 and 2010, while those without the law experienced a 0.5% decrease, according to the group's analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics figures. The measure's passage would symbolize the declining fortunes of the nation's once powerful union movement. Only four states have passed right-to-work laws since the 1960s. "If right-to-work passes in Michigan, it demonstrates the weakness of the labor movement," Hurd said. "If it can happen in Michigan, there's a feeling it can happen anywhere." CNNMoney's Chris Isidore and CNN's Poppy Harlow and Alison Kosik contributed to this report. To top of page
Posts: 12,565

12-11-2012, 05:35 PM	#17
Munson Roy E. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Olathe, KS Casino cash: $10610	Great news. The unions are pissed because they know that if workers are given a choice, the majority of them would rather keep their hard earned money. __________________ "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
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12-11-2012, 06:23 PM	#18
HonestChieffan Hoffa called me an SOB Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the Country in MO Casino cash: $1222604	Union Teacher in front of sign.....Snyder misspelled. Sweet. __________________ "The best time to sell peanuts is when the circus is in town."
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12-12-2012, 10:45 PM	#24
HonestChieffan Hoffa called me an SOB Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the Country in MO Casino cash: $1222604	Detroit Teachers w/$71,000 Salaries Leave Work to Protest, While Only 7 Percent of their Students Can Read..... http://frontpagemag.com/2012/dgreenf...ents-can-read/ __________________ "The best time to sell peanuts is when the circus is in town."
Posts: 22,158

12-13-2012, 07:06 AM	#25
HonestChieffan Hoffa called me an SOB Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the Country in MO Casino cash: $1222604	__________________ "The best time to sell peanuts is when the circus is in town."
Posts: 22,158

12-13-2012, 07:35 AM	#27
patteeu The 23rd Pillar Join Date: Sep 2002 Casino cash: $421099	Unemployment tends to be lower in right to work states. __________________ Obamacare’s fix for an American health care system that the federal government long ago broke, is to give the federal government far more power over American health care; that its solution to escalating health costs is to mandate greater health benefits (and, hence, higher costs); and that its solution to the pricey overreliance on pre-paid health plans — offered by insurance companies in lieu of real insurance — is to have the government require Americans to buy those pre-paid health plans under penalty of law.
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12-13-2012, 05:51 PM	#29
Prison Bitch Veteran Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Lees summit Casino cash: $22472	The voters in Michigan shot down several pro-union ballot issues in November. The people spoke.
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