The Legislature's repeal of the right-to-work law comes roughly a decade after House and Senate Republican majorities in 2012 passed the law amid large union protests on the Capitol lawn. Michigan a state steeped in labor history could become the first state in nearly 60 years to ditch its right-to-work law. The MI Chamber will continue to be outspoken about its opposition to these bills. The massive change in public policy came two months after taking control of the Legislature and set in motion a major win for labor unions. The Michigan Senate on Tuesday voted to repeal the state's 2012 right-to-work law and restore union-scale prevailing wages for state contracts. "To me, it's not a choice," Weiss said. 2018 Associated Press. March 27, 2023 / 10:54 PM / CBS Detroit (CBS DETROIT) - Along with repealing the right-to-work law, Michigan has also reinstated the prevailing wage. The order was upheld in the state Court of Claims. Twenty-two states do not have prevailing wage laws, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In the latest blow for organized labor, Michigans prevailing wage law, which requires union scale wages on public construction projects, was repealed by Republicans in the Michigan Legislature on Wednesday. Democratic Representative Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) chairs the House Labor Committee. 0:00. Since the repeal was generated in response to a petition initiative with sufficient valid signatures to place the matter on the ballot if the Legislature did not act, Governor Rick Snyder cannot veto the repeal bill and does not even need to sign it for it to take immediate effect. Beforethe debate began, union memberssaid that other states that repealed the prevailing wage had experienced lower wages, higher cost projects and less training for skilled trades workers. Photo credit: Ken Lund via Flickr Democrats on the committee also moved a bill to restore Michigan's prevailing wage requirement for wages and benefits paid at union rates for public construction projects. Two former colleagues in the Michigan Senate, Republican Tom Barrett and Democrat Curtis Hertel, both announced their campaigns for Congress in a key mid-Michigan swing district . "I know its a radical idea.. The Michigan Legislature voted to repeal the Prevailing Wage law after a group of Michigan citizens affiliated with the Associated Builders and Contractors Organization sponsored an initiative to either get the Prevailing Wage law repeal on the November 6, 2018 general election ballot or to a vote by the Michigan Legislature. The last times that lawmakers enacted citizen-initiated laws rather than let them go to voters were in 2014 and 2013, when Republicans backed wolf hunt and abortion insurance measures. They said the law helps fund union training that is important from a business perspective and for the safety of 170,000 workers in the industry. The vote was blasted by Democrats and union-backed labor groups, who shouted angrily in the chamber after the vote tally was read. Michigans right-to-work bills were adopted by the Legislatures Republican majorities in 2018 over the fierce objections of Democrats and labor unions and signed by then-Governor Rick Snyder. More than 90 minutes later, the House narrowly supported the repeal 56-53, as seven Republicans voted no. On Wednesday, June 6, 2018, the Michigan Legislature repealed the State's Prevailing Wage Law. It is important to note that the bills did not get immediate effect, so they will take effect in accordance with the constitutional provision that states no act shall take effect until the expiration of 90 days from the end of the session at which the bill was enacted. Mike Nofs of Battle Creek, Dale Zorn of Ida, Tory Rocca of Sterling Heights and Tom Casperson of Escanaba. Supporters have said the state will save money in the long run by paying skilled workers sufficient wages, which will be subject to the state's 4.25% income tax. State Rep. Brenda Carter, D-Pontiac, who sponsored the prevailing wage bill told the committee the legislation would ensure workers are offered competitive wages and called it a good deal for taxpayers footing the bill for the projects. endstream endobj 11 0 obj <> endobj 12 0 obj <> endobj 13 0 obj <>stream The repeal of Michigans Prevailing Wage Law will not impact the validity of local prevailing wage requirements. "I choose to side with taxpayers.". Violations were increased from a misdemeanor in the initial language to creating allowances for businesses or third parties to seek injunctive relief if they feel the law is being violated and seek a fine of up to $5,000. In doing so, Michigan would return to the days of compulsory union dues and mandatory union-level wages on all public construction projects, regardless of whether a union contractor is being used to perform the work. "Without prevailing wage, we wouldn't have the mission-driven and highly trained workers for the jobs. Detroit Free Press View Comments 0:00 0:47 Gov. There are few things more offensive and disheartening to the general public than politicians who speak out of both sides of their mouths, said Rep. Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills. "The best workers in the state will be forced to leave at a time when we need all our workers the most," predicted Jirmere Moses, business representative for Michigan Laborers Local 1191. You, too, will be asked why you donated and maybe we'll feature your quote next time! data compiled by researchers available at unionstats.com, repeals right-to-work for public sector workers, Michigan Senate Democrats pass bills repealing right-to-work law, Michigan House passes bills to repeal right-to-work, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Even so, he said then, hes not actively lobbying lawmakers to vote against it: Ive made my opinion known, and so legislators can look at that.. Our law has made us more competitive nationally, and especially with neighboring states, for desperately needed economic development projects and new jobs and is a tool to keep companies headquartered in Michigan. That is disappointing in some ways. The debate over prevailing wage is, in many ways, a debate about organized labor. 2023 www.freep.com. Michigan's Prevailing Wage Act required project owners to pay workers union-scale wages and benefits for state-funded construction projects. 1:46. It took only 10 days for the bills to pass both the Michigan House and Senate and to be signed by the Governor. LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Republican-controlled Michigan Legislature on Wednesday rescinded the state's decades-old law that guarantees higher wages for construction workers on government. That was partly due to an assumption that prevailing wage inflated pay rates by 25 percent, the report says, though its findings later were challenged in a separate report commissioned by prevailing wage supporters. A November 2022 poll of Michigan voters shows strong support of our Right to Work law. Although the repeal took effect on June 6, 2018, it will not impact any contract for state-funded work entered into prior to June 6, 2018. Rick Snyder signed the bills into law. She also. It was struck down in 1994 and reinstated by a federal appeals court in 1997. He has been covering Michigans Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. Michigan lawmakers were poised to take up legislation late Wednesday to repeal Michigan's right-to-work law that allows workers in unionized jobs to opt out of paying union dues and . The repeal will go into immediate effect. "The governor intends to sign legislation restoring workers' rights as passed by the Legislature," said a spokesperson for Whitmer. Our right to work law empowers people to choose good careers without fearing they could lose their jobs if they dont pay a union, and these protections guarantee workers job security and greater accountability over their representation.. Moved here for family, nature, Michigan to end marijuana drug tests for most state jobs on Oct. 1, Traffic, theft, drug crimes top Michigan automatic expungements, Unlikely bond between luxury cruise line, Great Lakes climate scientists, Michigan: Double payment concerns suspended $25M Clare health campus grant. LANSING Michigan's decade-old "right-to-work" laws are in peril now that . The massive change in public policy came two months after taking control of the Legislature and set in motion a major win for labor unions. "The inevitable outcome of these short-sighted policies to kill fair competition in the marketplace is that fewer roads and bridges get fixed and higher taxes will need to be imposed to fix them," said Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, in a statement. Your journalism is outstanding and rare these days. - Mark S. Contact her at [email protected] or 313-296-5743. GOP legislators have tried before to pass bills that would have repealed the prevailing wage in Michigan. 0:00. But I am someone who, as has been asked, am supportive of repealing right to work and am supportive of ensuring that we have restoration of prevailing wage.. That proposal produced fierce protests from thousands of union members at the Capitol. It found profound benefits for the workers in states with prevailing wage, highlighted by 5% to 16% higher wages. They erupted after the vote with one audience member yelling, "Thanks for screwing my family," and another hollering "Go to hell" at Republicans. What myths led to the repeal of the State's Prevailing Wage Law? However, it remains possible that the Legislature may move to final adjournment on/before July 1 to move up the effective date of several of the bills theyve passed. Unions are required by federal law to represent all those who belong to collective bargaining units, regardless of whether members pay dues. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper, Whitmer plans to sign right-to-work repeal despite referendum promise. I am not the Speaker of the House. On Thursday, May 21, 2015 a citizen's initiative proposal that would repeal Michigan's Prevailing Wage Law was filed with the Secretary of State and approved by the Board of Canvassers on May 26th, 2015. Pay rates for workers on publicly funded construction projects could be an issue this year in the Legislature. Michigans GOP-majority House and Senate adopted a citizen petition to repeal the states more than 50-year-old prevailing wage law, which generally requires union-scale wages and benefits be paid on state construction projects. Again, I think thats one of the reasons that strategy was taken, Snyder told reporters last week during the Detroit Regional Chambers annual policy conference on Mackinac Island. 10 0 obj <> endobj Lansing The Democratic-led Michigan House approved a package of bills Wednesday repealing the state's decade-old right-to-work law and restoring prevailing wage requirements for government. Michigan House votes to repeal Right-to-Work, restore prevailing wage "These bills will protect health and safety, ensuring healthcare workers can put patient care ahead of profit, construction workers can speak up when there's a safety issue, and employees can call attention to food safety threats and other problems," she continued. The Senate adopted the petition by a 23-14 margin. "It's long past time we get back to our roots," said bill sponsor state Rep. Regina Weiss, D-Oak Park. Whitmer promised to veto when she took office in 2019 and signed an Executive Directive 2019-07 on. I am not leadership in the House, he said. 0:04. 2018, Act 171, Imd. Weiss rejected arguments that the right-to-work repeal would hurt the state's economy. The bills include appropriations to make the legislation referendum-proof, a maneuver that Gov. Join the Michigan Chamber and get them sent directly to you. 2161 West Grand Boulevard Contact her at [email protected] or 313-296-5743. Prevailing wage laws establish a minimum wage for construction workers on public projects that aligns with similar work in the area. The Michigan legislature voted to repeal the State's prevailing wage law on June 6, 2018. . "Were debating a bill that will only provide benefits to the people who receive the money at the expense of the taxpayer.. "This is not a subject that should be jammed through," said state Rep. Tom Kunse, R-Clare. The Senate voted 23-14, with four Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. a``` Proponents of the Prevailing Wage Law repeal claim that the Prevailing Wage Law inflated the bill on taxpayer-funded projects. Opponents of prevailing wage, which has been repealed since 2018, have generally argued it artificially raises the cost of state construction jobs. Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law Democratic bills to repeal the state's right-to-work law that allowed workers to opt out of paying union dues or fees. hb``g`` The Republican-led Legislature in 2018 repealed the prevailing wage law after organizers gathered enough signatures to put the repeal on a ballot proposal. 91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids Democrats attached appropriations to the bills for the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to respond to public questions about the legislation and implement the changes. Michigan Supreme Court gives boost to prevailing wage bill, These privatization, right-to-work bills would affect state employees, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The effort this year was led by Protecting Michigan Taxpayers, which recently submitted hundreds of thousands of valid signatures from registered Michigan voters and had its petition certified by state canvassers after the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in its favor. The joint release was issued after the business community, including the MI Chamber and MMA, were denied the right to testify at committee. Governor Whitmer signed controversial legislation to repeal the states Right to Work law and reinstate its prevailing wage law Friday. Rick Snyder, who had threatened to veto a bill introduced last year in the Legislature. This will produce a worker crisis., Only donate if we've informed you about important Michigan issues. Consequently, the crucial shortage of skilled trade workers in Michigan will only grow with the repeal. The Right to Work bills (HB 4004-5) have both private and public sector provisions but the public sector bill is canceled out until, or unless, the US Supreme Court reverses its 2018 decision in Janus v. AFSCME, which found mandatory membership fees among public sector unions violated the First Amendment. Additionally, Whitmer in 2021 issued an order partially restoring the prevailing wage. Before its repeal, the States Prevailing Wage Law assured that laborers were paid fairly for the work performed. Federal Davis Bacon Rates. Right to Work is about freedom and personal choice. Rules adopted by the state and many, With the passage of so called right-to-work laws in Indiana, some Michigan lawmakers are now calling for those laws in Michigan.Lawmakers in support of, Right-to-work laws prohibit workers from being required to join a union or pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment.Indianas legislature has, Governor Rick Snyder and leaders of the Republican led state House and Senate announced plans to introduce so called Right to Work legislation today., Report details how smaller, older industrial cities can go green, save money, prepare for climate change, Michigan air quality to improve, after wildfire smoke shrouds state yet again, Detroit Board of Zoning Appeals denies proposal for Core City concrete crusher, Thousands of authors urge AI companies to stop using work without permission, Expansion of MI bottle deposit law proposed, Residents urge denial for permit to crush concrete next to Detroit neighborhood, Prevailing wage to be an issue before new Legislature, State Legislature gets rid of prevailing wage, Campaign to ban prevailing wage headed to court, "Right-to-work": a historical perspective. "The law repealed Michigan's red tape requirement that union wages be paid on state government construction projects regardless of whether the . On June 6, 2018, the Michigan Legislature repealed the state's Prevailing Wage Act through the Michigan Repeal Prevailing Wages and Fringe Benefits on State Projects Initiative (the "Initiative"). On Wednesday, June 6, 2018, the Michigan Legislature repealed the States Prevailing Wage Law. The time has come to eliminate this outdated law and save our taxpayers money., State Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Williams Township, called the prevailing wage a discriminatory and racist relic of the past. Clara Hendrickson fact-checks Michigan issues and politics as a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Projects paying prevailing wagescost 10-15% more than if it was built by the private sector, said Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, who has introduced the bill to repeal in every legislative session. Please enter valid email address to continue. Whitmer has vetoed legislation in the past based on the inclusion of the referendum-proof maneuver. Republicans in the state put the law on the books in 2012 amid massive protests by labor advocates who argue it weakens unions and erodes their bargaining power. 2023 Bridge Michigan. YLv z5 The prevailing wage likely became whatever the local unions had negotiated for their members, regardless of whether the contractor who performed the work was a union employer. Union-backed contractors tend to support the law and say repealing it would lower wages and weaken the attractiveness of worker training programs, including apprenticeship and training programs they run across the state. Mike, Proponents of repeal cite a 2013 report from East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group, commissioned by Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, which represents mostly non-union contractors. See what new members are saying about why they donated to Bridge Michigan: If you want to ensure the future of nonpartisan, nonprofit Michigan journalism, please become a member today. Taxpayers, they're going to pay for the mistakes," said Jessica Knight, an apprentice with Operating Engineers 324 who serves in the Army Reserve. The move mirrors what Republicans did in 2012 when they passed right-to-work. Republicans repealed Michigan's prevailing wage law in 2018. In 2022, Whitmer signed a directive for contractors on state construction projects to pay union rates. Union groups in the gallery yelled profanities and vowed to vote out lawmakers who voted for repeal. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen. Michigan lawmakers were poised to take up legislation late Wednesday to repeal Michigan's right-to-work law that allows workers in unionized jobs to opt out of paying union dues and fees. In 2012, the GOP-led Legislature repealed the law that requires contractors to pay union-level wages on publicly funded projects. on. Voters to decide in November. Democrats argued that repealing the wage would lead to lower quality work in the state because unions are providing training and apprenticeships for skilled trade workers and wouldnt without the prevailing wage. Enacted in 1965, Michigans Prevailing Wage Law required that any construction firm securing state-funded projects pay laborers union-scale wages and benefits. While Democrats and the unions say the bills will increase wages, benefits and workplace safety, the MI Chamber and other business groups strongly disagree and have vocalized their concerns with Democrats and Republicans alike.