Posted on 10/08/2012 7:10:12 PM PDT by markomalley
They have been playing defense elsewhere across the Midwest, but labor unions in Michigan have gone on the attack with a proposed first-in-the-nation amendment to the state constitution that would enshrine a right to collective bargaining for public — and private-sector workers — and invalidate any past or future laws to the contrary.
Proposal 2, backed by Michigan’s teachers and other public-employee unions, is being closely watched by labor and management groups across the country after a string of setbacks for the union movement in states such as Wisconsin and Indiana. Other states are likely to follow Michigan’s lead if voters approve the measure Nov. 6, analysts here say.
But Gov. Rick Snyder, who has a business background, generally has shunned the more confrontational approach toward labor adopted by fellow Republican governors such as Wisconsin’s Scott Walker. Much of the state’s business establishment also strongly opposes the measure, saying it will hurt competitiveness and take a big bite out of the state’s ability to control spending.
“It turns government unions into a superlegislature,” said F. Vincent Vernuccio, labor policy director of the pro-market Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Mich., which calls the measure costly and overreaching. “If passed, it will give government unions an effective veto over legislation passed by elected representatives.”
(Excerpt) Read more at times247.com ...
A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION REGARDING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
This proposal would:
- Grant public and private employees the constitutional right to organize and bargain collectively through labor unions.
- Invalidate existing or future state or local laws that limit the ability to join unions and bargain collectively, and to negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements, including employees’ financial support of their labor unions. Laws may be enacted to prohibit public employees from striking.
- Override state laws that regulate hours and conditions of employment to the extent that those laws conflict with collective bargaining agreements.
- Define “employer” as a person or entity employing one or more employees.
Read bullet #3 very carefully. The union contract would be the highest law of the land in Michigan.
If this passes, I can't imagine any business, even Government Motors, staying in Michigan (what businesses are still there, that is)
Pure insanity. It’ll probably pass... ;-(
In MI, I guess there's enough Union members, Teachers, etc., that they think they can steal Legislative Authority from The People.
If it passes, MI is toast. They have sure benefited from all the UAW golden benefits, wages, etc., to the tune of all their Auto Industry leaving the state, and their Pension Fund being bailed out with Taxpayer money from the Nation.
Collective bargaining against the taxpayers’ dollars should be outlawed. Private sector bargaining is okay providing there is no special involvement from the state other than to prevent criminal activity.
Question: In Michigan, is a simple majority on a ballot enough to cause an amendment, or is a super-majority needed either by public or State Legislature vote?
I hope it does pass... turn the whole state into Detroit... and give the Dems a place to call home.
The land of mosquitoes and snow.
sorry to Freepers who may reside there.... I heard Wisconsin is nice.
Hmmm, that will help the employment situation in MI. The first communist state. No one will buy MI bonds so how are they going to finance their utopia?
It sounds like the idiotic sort of thing that they would try in my state (Washington).
If we take away bargaining rights we might just as well have the Chinese come in and govern us. what’s next,.they take away the right to assemble.
If you are upset At the deal the public employee unions got, blame the elected reps that gave it to them.the union reps did their job as they were supposed to do.
How can you pass a law that would invalidate any future laws that may come to pass that goes against this said passed law?
The real question should be is whether or not Michigan should adopt a permanent third world economy.
Absent a sarcasm tag; you have just written the Dumbest Post in FreeRepublic today - congrats! - NO sarcasm!
Nobody is taking away their bargaining rights. That’s the title the union chose to fool the simple minded.
Michigan would just be the start. If it passed in MI, the unions would than cherry pick the states, until every state was under the union thumb.
Then they’d work to overcome the US Constitution.
When it comes to political favors, it takes two to tango. There is, for example, no bribery without a briber and a bribee.
Consequently, blame for the abuse of the public trust represented by politicians colluding with public employee unions is equally distributed. Union reps aren't just "doing their job" when they engage in schemes to screw the taxpayers.
DUMB IDEA.
But the solution is not to export jobs.
Bring back US jobs now.
The Communists can do anything they want, that's the law.
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