Ever since Michigan handed its right-to-work legislation in 2012, union bosses have been eager for a possibility to overturn it.
As residents of a right-to-work state, Michiganders are free to affix and pay dues to a labor union, and so they’re free to decide on to not.
The bosses that management Michigan’s largest unions would somewhat staff not have that alternative — they need dues to be necessary.
Any different personal group, be it a church, a civic group or a political occasion, can be laughed proper out of Lansing in the event that they requested the state legislature to mandate contributions to their teams.
But in politics, cash talks. Union bosses spent tens of millions of {dollars} on Michigan’s elections this yr, and now they’re wanting to money in.
It’s a disgrace, however not a shock, that among the many union bosses calling for the reinstatement of obligatory union dues is Ray Curry, president of the UAW, who known as proper to work a “travesty.”
Curry apparently believes that every one staff at UAW-controlled amenities needs to be compelled to provide cash to the union, a corporation that has seen no less than 11 executives plead responsible and obtain jail sentences for taking bribes and dipping their fingers into funds meant for use for staff.
As only one noteworthy instance, Gary Jones, who upon turning into the UAW’s common president in 2018 pledged to battle in opposition to right-to-work legal guidelines, was sentenced to twenty-eight months in jail for embezzling union funds.
As evidenced by the current UAW election runoffs, there are nonetheless energetic and indignant requires reform throughout the union.
The reality is, the overwhelming majority of these from union households in Michigan consider staff needs to be allowed to determine for themselves whether or not the union’s bosses could be trusted with their hard-earned cash.
But somewhat than going by the painful strategy of rooting out corruption and rebuilding its repute among the many rank and file, the UAW’s hierarchy is solely asking the Michigan Legislature to provide them the dictatorial dues-collection powers they loved earlier than it turned a right-to-work state.
In so doing, not solely are union bosses trying to keep away from any accountability, they’re advocating the repeal of a coverage that is been an incredible boon for Michigan’s economic system.
The state has seen a 6.4 p.c upswing in manufacturing jobs since proper to work took impact in 2013, a interval the place neighboring forced-dues states misplaced manufacturing jobs.
Michigan staff’ common yearly compensation, after adjusting for the price of residing, is greater than $5,500 increased than within the common non-right-to-work state.
Right to work makes Michigan a magnet for jobs and funding. When staff know {that a} state will not allow them to be compelled to contribute to unions just like the UAW, they’re extra more likely to work there.
Michigan’s Legislature should not cave to union bosses on the UAW or different unions who need unchecked entry to staff’ cash.
There’s a cause why current polling by SurveyUSA discovered that greater than 8 in 10 Michiganders help the right-to-work precept that nobody needs to be compelled to pay dues to a union as a situation of employment.
And that is smart: Right to work has been good for Michigan’s economic system and its staff.
Source: www.autonews.com