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Subscribe to RSSAs more protests are planned in Michigan over the controversial right-to-work bill, Rep. Hansen Clarke (D-Mich.) tells MSNBC's Thomas Roberts that he's concerned the legislation will "end up cutting wages and benefits for middle-income workers who really need the money right now."
Michigan's congressional delegation met Monday with Gov. Rick Snyder, asking him to veto or at least delay a vote on a "right to work" law moving through the state's legislature.
Democrats and organized labor groups have launched an all-out blitz they are hoping might halt legislation that would establish workers' rights to employment in a workplace without having to join a union. The Republican-held state legislature passed versions of the legislation last week, and are set to bring it up for final consideration as soon as Tuesday.
NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss the fiscal cliff deadline and President Obama's motives behind his trip to Michigan on Monday.
Snyder, a first-term Republican governor who's fashioned himself as a more pragmatic leader, has said he would sign the bill if it came to his desk.
"We strongly urged the governor to veto the so-called right to work bill, or at a minimum, ask the legislature to delay the vote on it," Sen. Carl Levin said in a conference call to describe Democrats' meeting with the governor. "The governor listened, and he told us that he would 'seriously,' in his words, consider our concerns."
Former Michigan Republican Governor John Engler, who is the president of the business roundtable, joins The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd to talk about President Barack Obama's trip the Michigan, the fiscal cliff, and Michigan's 'right to work' law.
Snyder's office had no immediate reaction to Democrats' characterization of the meeting.
Michigan has become the latest Midwestern epicenter over labor rights as a result of this fight, following Ohio and Wisconsin. The Republican governors of those states led efforts to curb or eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees' unions.
Alex Wong / Getty Images
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin
National Democrats have begun to wade into the fight as well, issuing blistering statements warning against the Michigan proposal. The fight could be elevated further this afternoon, when President Barack Obama visits the Detroit area in a previously-scheduled trip.
Democrats are particularly incensed by a procedural move used by Republican authors of the bill which would prevent the law from being challenged by a statewide referendum. The Democrats who met Monday with Snyder said they had also urged the governor to change that provision, so that the right to work proposal could be brought to a popular vote.
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If the unions are such a good thing for the workers, wouldn't they want to join and pay the dues. Why do they have to be forced.
I know I would join in order to make 20k more than other workers doing the same job without a union.
Its funny how democrats don't like the right to work, which basically says you don't have to pay union dues to reap the benefits of the union. You say the people who pay the union dues are carrying the others....the ones not paying are free loaders and get something for nothing. Is this right?
Well, well, well, welcome to the republican view of PAYING TAXES AND WELFARE! Can't have your cake and eat it too.
The freeloaders want all the union benefits but don't want to pay for the dues. They want all the benefits of Obamacare including an overall reduced medical bill but don't want to pay for the premiums. The freeloaders want all the benefits of living in the USA but don't want to pay their taxes for that privilege. Time for the freeloaders to act like adults.
Does not matter the good news Snyder is done and will not get re-elected
YAH!! May the same thing happen to Snyder that happened to the Gov. of Wisconsin!!! His majority went up..... Unions Suk!!!!! Unions spend 70-80% of their money on politics. Why not spend it on their members????
Good timing for Obama to show up to trash the wealthy. What kind of President campaigns against a specific group of his own people? If this isn't class warfare, what is? Raising their taxes doesn't bring in much money, but it makes them the foil for what's going wrong. The people have voted themselves into the Treasury! Burn down the Mission!
If you want to reap the benefits of the union, it should be your choice to pay the dues. If you feel you're better off as a non-union worker, you shouldn't have to pay so-called "fair share" dues. Unions resist "right to work" laws because all the good things they accomplished decades ago are now the law of the land and the easiest way to collect dues is through forced membership rather than actually attracting members on merit of your deeds. It's simply a money-racket for the career union officials who do no real work but collect their paychecks off of backs of the little guys. It's no different than the CEOs they claim to be battling. They're doing the same exact thing.
Fair enough, but then the employer should have the freedom to hire a non union employee because the non union employee is bargaining for his own pay.
But you union folk wouldn't like that much at all now would you. The employer would choose to hire all non union folk instead of you slugs.
The employer and the non union employee should absolutely have the right to bargain for his own pay separately from the union. Unions like to play it off like their members will benefit more. The only union members that benefit more are the ones that wouldn't be able to keep the job based on performance. Most good employees are held back by the unions' practice of "everybody gets raises based on seniority and not merit".
Forcing somebody to join a union is the height of hypocracy. Yeah, unions started out as a decent thing years ago when folks owed their check to the "company store." However, they have sinced morphed into a useless lot. They now demand more benefits than are reasonable; 364 days a year off and it is practically impossible to fire a sorry worker. That is why they are going by (belatedly) the wayside. All the glamourization of unions nowadays is just that. What a useless lot of nothings.........
No one should have to pay or belong to some group to have a job period.
This is why conservatives are against democracy.
So that was conservatives who rammed Obamacare down our throats? All this time I thought it was the Democratic controlled house and senate that passed it without republican input or one republican vote. Pretty democratic of them wasn't it!
More lies about 'no republican input to Obamacare'. Next you'll be telling us about the dem 2 year filibuster proof majority - yet another lie foisted upon the low information voters who listen to Faux News.
If they had so much input into it why didn't they vote for it?
Actually they were never given the chance to vote Dems used the run around to pass it.
The right to work is just that and unions (aka Democrats) need to stay the hell out of it. Michigan is tired of the coruption and lies.
Hey Twinkie's employees. How'd that union bargining work out for ya??????????
Twinkie union members took 2 pay cuts and reduction in benefits before finally saying 'No' to any more. Menawhile, the executives got enormous bonus's and raises. Real fair - ain't it?
And you know this because you worked there right?
blearyeyed
Actually that was the olde CEO that was fired the 4 new heads offered to take a dollar a month for a year themselves.....
Detroit Michigan has been completely controlled by unions and democrats for the last fifty years. Here is where Detroit stands.
18.7% Unemployment rate, Highest in the country for major metropolitan area.
25,000 Average annual wages, Lowest in the country for major metropolitan area.
70,000 residential homes per year are being torn down,
The city is 17 billion in debt and considering backruptcy.
If the unions and democrates do so much good for people why is this city in so much trouble.
Unions can be good and bad. I've worked at two companies where unions caused problems that led to the loss of jobs and created inefficiency in the workplace, while lining the pockets of union staff. No worker should be required to join a union.
Which ever side you are on.....this was a SNEAKY move.
Also, there should never be any provision in any law passed by representitives that cannot be later voted up or down by the PEOPLE!!
Lets see about Snyder while we are at it....a little business friendly??
First he eliminates business taxes and now will lower wages for his buisness buddies by the RTW law.
In Pennsylvania we have been paying a right to work tax for a long time, we pay $52 a year just because we have a job. Im not in a union and never have been, but have to pay it regardless. Actually the only thing here that we dont pay taxes on is clothing and groceries as long as they are unprepared. Buy a rotisserie chicken or a hoagie and you get taxed. Every dollar i make is taxed to death.
Because of their greed, unions are largely responsible for their own demise. Good riddance.
The Democratic Socialist Party strikes again trying to FORCE Americans who want to work to join a Union in doing so. Nice Freedom they want to offer us Americans where you do not have the right to work unless the Democratic Socialist Empire says you can work as you must do what they say and nothing different. Enough is enough from these lazy Union Workers who are just like a government employee where you cannot get fired if you don't do your job.......
Well, the Union fired the first shot on this one. After his election, there was a tacit understanding between Snyder and Unions that things would stay the same under his administration. Then, going into the last election the Unions made a major attempt to greatly expand union rights by appealing to the voters to approve an amendment to the State Constitution. This was voted down 57% to 42%.
It was a very clear the voters chose "right to work" rather than "union shop". These are the same voters who voted for Obama 54% to Romney 45%. So, the OWS crowd will change their signs and picket Lansing and in the process, harden the public image of Union intimidation and hooliganism further weakening their cause.
Unions only believe in Democracy if they win.
If the union does not collect dues how can they bribe the politicians.
Bill,
You took the words right out of my mouth. The "Unions" threw $20-30 million behind Prop 2 and it went down in a blaze of glory than god!!!! Based on that exercise, the other side has decided to test it's hand on the other side of the arguement and the left tries to act like it's a conspiracy?
This discussion has been going on in Michigan for too long. Unions are nothin more than legalized gangsters who do nothing but protect the weakest in their ranks. They do nothing more than create an average work force that prop up the lazy and ride on the backs of the rest. To add to the irresponsibility, they solely promote Liberal ideology which all of their members do not agree with. As corrupted as they come...........
What I find most amusing is how a move becomes sneaky or corrupt when the other side uses it but a part of the process when your side uses it.
It is also funny that winning the election only gives a mandate when your side wins.
Majority rule is always great unles you are in the minority!
Disgusting!! The democrat trash are pushing to STOP decent people from having the right to work without being forced to join a thuggish union and be FORCED to PAY union dues to be 'allowed' to work somewhere. This is just sick! Although not at all surprising, the Union Thugs are the democrats foot soldiers and their thuggery helps bully decent people who disagree with all the union thuggery going on in politics.
Because without this bill,.. people simply won't have the right to work???
You can't possibly be this mindlessly simple..
There's a simple solution to not joining a union,... don't work at a union job,.. or union shop...
Seriously,.. how hard is that...
Ok so if you want to join a union move to a different state! Oh wait a right to work law does not stop you from joining a union it just gives you a choice. I thought Democrats were all about choice. Unless of course the choice is someone else's.
In 2010, the percentage of workers belonging to a union in the United States (or total labor union "density") was 11.4%, compared to 18.6% in Germany, 27.5% in Canada, and 70% in Finland. Union membership in the private sector has fallen under 7% — levels not seen since 1932.
But you just go ahead and keep thinking unions are the biggest threat to our economy. If you really want a job, take it and pay the dues - then work from within the union to hold it's power in check. When strike votes come up, vote against a strike and encourage your fellow members to vote against it as well. Regardless of what you've heard, the membership controls the union. The payment amounts and what is done with the dues is voted on by the membership. If it doesn't work out and you can not effect change, then get out and find another job. That's what the GOP keeps telling you, so do it. Just quit and find another job.
Funny K1200RS, A thinking person is mindless since they do not drink the union kool aid, o.k. sport, please allow the adults to speak.
I would suggest the same, if you state turns right to work and you don't like it move to a union thuggish State where it is enforced by the power of the state.
These guys sure do seem to fight hard to avoid being free, independent and self reliant.........Why is that???? Might it be because there is responsibility involved????
Unions are excellent for substandard workers, do not hurt average workers, and make sure their is no benefit to being a great worker.
If you read the article it says a procedural move was used to block the challenge of a referendum vote. So if 90% of Michigan is against this their voice cannot be heard. In Ohio a few years ago the same legislation was defeated using a referendum vote and it was defeated 2 to 1. Why set it up that way to deny the people a voice. If you want to go to a union free workplace you can do it now. if you want retirement health care etc you should form a Union and pay dues , the choice already exists To those who say Unions are not needed in today's world, check out the countries where Unions are illegal like Mexico Now there is a shining example...
"Right to Work" is a misnomer. It means no rights for workers and less work than ever. Without labor unions, workers would be forced back into the days of the Robber Barons who, in order to increase their own profits, cut wages and increased working hours and conditions to unsafe levels. Labor unions have benefited all of us, even those who don't belong to one (I never have).
Except that increasing work hours without increased compensation and taking conditions to unsafe levels would be prohibited by labor laws. While cutting wages might not be illegal to a degree, it comes with its own eventual drawbacks for the employer. Unions were great decades ago and helped all of us in the end...however, a lot of the benefits they are responsible for are memorialized in labor laws thus making unions no longer as important as they once were. Unions have eliminated 80 hour work weeks and unsafe conditions but it's not like those things will return once unions disappear. It would take numerous federal and state laws being repealed before it would be possible to slip back to pre-union conditions.
Oh BS. Why do we have the dept of labor and OHSA, etc, etc? To protect workers.
Oh my....I don't think you all truly understand. I live in a right to work state....and my husband works in a place that has a union. He has chosen not to be in it. He has seen no difference in his treatment versus any other union employee. There are labor laws, OSHA laws and company policies that protect him as much as anyone else. There is no difference between him and any other union employee except that he has more money in his pocket....and the union will not back him if he "sleeps on the job". He's a good employee so he's not worried about it. 8 years there and no problems. It really is a good thing.
Here we go again with Democrats taking away our rights. Why is it a bad thing for me to get to choose whether to join the Union or not?
Why don't I get to choose whether I pay Union dues or not?
This is America! Every state should have right to work laws. Why do Unions get more power than businesses and us (the people)?
Oh, I remember, they give the most money to Congress.
Do you have a dress code where you work? How about drug testing?
Unions do not have more power than the company or the people, and unions do not contribute to politicians more than businesses. Please provide a link or cite articles that say they do, and I will prove Fox News (or Rush or Beck or Hannity) are lieing to you.
REALLY, people are fighting a 'Right to Work Law'?? The name itself, is so fundamentally AMERICAN, what is the justification? Are some people committed to completely overturning everything this Country has stood for? I for one, would hope people are taking names, of the leaders of this foolishness, and make sure they work towards DUMPING their miserable misguided as--s, during the next election cycle.
The Democrats once again getting in the way of people who want to and need to work. Why should you have to join a union to get a job or work? THAT is stupid at best. If the union employees don't want to work then let them go on strike but don't stop those who do want to work from getting a job.