On Wednesday, March 8, the Michigan House of Representatives passed critical legislation to uplift working people across the state.
Repealed “Right-to-Work” Laws
House Bills 4004 and 4005 restore worker freedoms and re-establish union rights by eliminating the state’s so-called “right-to-work” laws. Since their adoption in 2012, these laws have siphoned resources away from unions, which impaired their ability to bargain effectively on behalf of their members. Workers in states with expanded workers’ rights make almost $9,000 more annually, a 15% difference according to 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Reinstated Prevailing Wage
House Bill 4007 makes sure skilled workers are paid what they’re worth by reinstating the statewide prevailing wage law. The Legislature repealed the prevailing wage law in 2018 and claimed that it would save taxpayers money on public construction projects. No evidence of those savings ever materialized; in fact, studies have shown that construction projects where prevailing wage is paid are more likely to be completed on time and under budget.
All bills passed along a party-line vote, 56-53, and are now headed to the Michigan Senate for a vote.