LANSING — Members of the Michigan House Democratic Caucus spoke out today against right-to-work legislation being proposed in the state Legislature. Such a law would have several negative consequences, including reduced wages and benefits, poorer working conditions and job losses.
“The governor and legislative Republicans are catering to the extreme wing of their party that values corporate profits and CEO bonuses over paying middle-class workers a fair wage,” House Democratic Leader Richard E. Hammel (D-Mt. Morris Twp.) said. “We will not stand for this continued assault on Michigan families. We will do everything in our power to stop this harmful legislation from passing.”
Right-to-work laws allow workers to opt out of paying union dues. A financially weaker union can’t bargain effectively, which results in lower wages. Studies show employees in right-to-work states make 3.2 percent less than those in free-bargaining states.
“If the governor and his allies in the Capitol were truly serious about turning around Michigan’s economy, they would abandon this policy that is a proven failure in multiple states,” House Democratic Leader-Elect Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) said. “The right way to get Michigan growing again is to rebuild from the middle class out, and that starts with paying a fair wage.”