LANSING, Mich., Feb. 24, 2022 — Yesterday, Michigan House Democrats introduced a 34-bill package that puts Michigan workers first by restoring organizing, collective bargaining and workers’ rights.

“Though they might not always get the credit they’re due, unions and the hardworking people of Michigan have always kept our state moving forward. Over the years, however, they have been stripped of so many of their rights,” said state Rep. Terry Sabo (D-Muskegon), chair of the Labor Caucus. “As legislators, it’s our duty to ensure that all workers are heard, supported, and given the protections and rights they deserve. We are proud to introduce a legislative package today that does just that.”

“We know that our entire state succeeds when workers succeed,” said state Rep. Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park). “By introducing this package, the Labor Caucus is proud to continue the strong Democratic tradition of standing up for the interests of working people.”

The bills included in the 34-bill package to restore organizing, collective bargaining and workers’ rights are as followed:

  • House Bill 5805: Repeals a provision in current law that prohibits the contracting out of non-instructional services from being a subject of bargaining. (Rep. Brenda Carter)
  • House Bill 5806: Allows principals and vice principals to organize and be represented by unions. (Rep. Breen)
  • House Bill 5807: Restores some prohibited subjects, like evaluations, of bargaining to provide school employees a voice in important decisions impacting classrooms and their jobs. (Rep. Hood)
  • House Bill 5808: Changes references that allow HB 5807 to restore some prohibited subjects of bargaining, like evaluations, to provide school employees a voice in important decisions impacting classrooms and their jobs. (Rep. Shannon)
  • House Bill 5809: Allows school districts to collect union dues or fees via payroll deduction. (Rep. Rahbi)
  • House Bill 5810: Restores contract expiration rights. (Rep. Morse)
  • House Bill 5811: Restores the “reasonable and just cause” discharge standard in the Teacher Tenure Act. (Rep. Stone)
  • House Bill 5812: Creates the Reasonable and Just Cause Teacher Tenure Act. (Rep. Cynthia A. Johnson)
  • House Bill 5813: Amends the Public Employment Relations Act to require every public sector employee’s introductory packet to contain information about their rights to organize, join or assist a labor organization and bargain collectively through representatives of their choice. (Rep. O’Neal)
  • House Bill 5814: Amends the Labor Management Relations Act to require every private sector employee’s introductory packet to contain information about their rights to organize, join or assist a labor organization and bargain collectively through representatives of their choice. (Rep. Manoogian)
  • House Bill 5815: Amends the Public Employment Relations Act to require that any public sector employer’s decision to subcontract work, close or move to a different location be presumed anti-union animus and unfair labor practice if done within one year of a successful organizing drive. (Rep. Hope)
  • House Bill 5816: Amends the Labor Management Relations Act to require that any public sector employer’s decision to subcontract work, close, or move to a different location be presumed anti-union animus and unfair labor practice if done within one year of a successful organizing drive. (Rep. Steckloff)
  • House Bill 5817: Prohibits the use of replacement workers during labor disputes. (Rep. Haadsma)
  • House Resolution 237: Urges the National Labor Relations Board to ban the use of permanent replacement workers. (Rep. Haadsma)
  • House Bill 5818: Amends the Public Employment Relations Act to require employers to provide contact information for all employees in the collective bargaining unit. (Rep. Cherry)
  • House Bill 5819: Amends the Labor Management Relations Act to require employers to provide contact information for all employees in the collective bargaining unit. (Rep. Sneller)
  • House Bill 5820: Expands binding arbitration to cover all public employees to ensure a seamless continuity of services. (Rep. Sabo)
  • House Joint Resolution O: Allows state employees to use binding arbitration. (Rep. Anthony)
  • House Bill 5821: Prohibits health care facilities from using taxpayer money to deter unionization. (Rep. Brabec)
  • House Bill 5822: Allows workers injured on the picket line because of the actions of a private security force contracted by the employer to be eligible for worker’s compensation benefits. (Rep. Cavanagh)
  • House Bill 5823: Requires restaurants and bars to post information explaining that tipped employees have the right to receive the standard minimum wage when their tip wage and tips are lower than the standard minimum wage level. (Rep. Young)
  • House Bill 5824: Repeals the Domestic Partner Benefit Restriction Act, which prohibits public employers from providing domestic partner benefits. (Rep. Pohutsky)
  • House Bill 5825: Prohibits an employer from monitoring employee communications unless the employer establishes a monitoring policy and communicates the policy to their employees. (Rep. Kuppa)
  • House Bill 5826: Enacts the Workers’ Freedom Act to protect an employee’s right of association and free speech and provide a check on employers forcing their employees to listen to anti-union, religious and other political rhetoric. (Rep. Scott)
  • House Bill 5827: Bars employers from hiring or firing an individual based upon their credit history. (Rep. Garza)
  • House Bill 5828: Bars employers from hiring or firing an individual based upon their appearance. (Rep. Tyrone Carter)
  • House Bill 5829: Bars employers from hiring or firing an individual based upon a family member’s health. (Rep. Rogers)
  • House Bill 5830: Bars employers from hiring or firing an individual based upon their legal activities engaged outside of work. (Rep. Thanedar)
  • House Bill 5831: Requires an employer to have “just cause” before terminating an employee after a probationary period. (Rep. Rahbi)
  • House Bill 5832: Establishes a blue-ribbon commission to evaluate local and school funding. (Rep. Weiss)
  • House Bill 5833: Allows conservation officers to elect to switch to the State Police Retirement System. (Rep. Cherry)
  • House Bill 5834: Places all newly hired conservation officers into the State Police Retirement System. (Rep. Sowerby)
  • House Bill 5835: Holds employers that outsource good-paying Michigan jobs accountable ensuring that the state does not subsidize. (Rep. Anthony)
  • House Bill 5836: Provides funding to employers that outsource jobs. (Rep. Camilleri)