The president of the Michigan Education Association (MEA) says that a mere one percent of its 150,000 members have opted out of the union—proof, some say, that government should stay out of labor and the private sector and Right to Work legislation is just an attempt by big business to use laws to smother unions.
“It’s looking more and more like the overwhelming majority of people simply don’t want to implement these Right to Work laws,” said Pat Sink, business manager for IUOE Local 18 in neighboring Ohio. “This is about business trying to take power away from the people and the people are speaking up again. It is irresponsible of government as it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars.”
According to The Detroit News, MEA President Steve Cook said that 99 percent of members who could have opted out of paying union dues chose to retain their membership.
Despite the show of solidarity amongst labor supporters, Right to Work advocates want to push Michigan farther down the Right to Work road.
Last month the state’s union supporters got word that Right to Work proponents announced they were looking to expand the boundaries of the law to include attorney and bar fees.
With these new developments and potential expansions, labor unions in Ohio have become even more determined to ensure Right to Work never gains traction in their home state.
“Although workers seem to be reinforcing the fact that people don’t want Right to Work, Michigan has continued to be the cautionary tale of how this can quickly spin out of control,” said Sink.
Opponents of recent Right to Work bills, also known as “Workplace Freedom,” contend that the initiative’s true purpose is to kill unions and worker protections, ultimately leading to a weaker middle class.
By stripping workers of their rights and freedoms, business owners would be free to lower worker pay, reduce worker benefits and ignore worker rights.
To keep voters well informed on the dangers of Right-to-Work, the IUOE Local 18 union-backed advocacy group Keep Ohio’s Heritage has been running ads on cable and network television designed to educate voters on the issue.
Direct link: https://prnewschannel.com/2013/10/16/99-percent-of-michigan-teachers-choose-to-stay-in-union-despite-right-to-work/SOURCE: Keep Ohio's Heritage
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