Unions Get Big Wins From Legislature

Michigan Democrats flipped two Republican-led work-related laws: they repealed right-to-work and reinstated the prevailing wage law.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the House and the Senate finalized the bills on March 21. The state congress sent the bills to Governor Whitmer for her signature.

Getting rid of the right-to-work law helps unions with boosting their memberships in the private and public sectors, which helps strengthen the unions’ ability to negotiate with companies. Restoring the prevailing wage law means that state-funded construction sites must pay workers union-level wages and benefits.

The right-to-work appeal passed the state House 56-52 and the Senate 20-16, both along party lines.

About Post Author

Andrea Plaid

Andrea Plaid’s work on race, gender, sex, and sexuality has appeared at Newsweek.com, Vogue.com, The Guardian, In These Times, MadameNoire, HelloBeautiful and Rewire. Her commentary has appeared on MSNBC, Chicago Tribune, and Washington Post. She is writing the forthcoming stylebook, Penning with the People, for The Feminist Wire/University of Arizona Press’ book series. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Andrea now lives in Corktown.

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