Unions have been working to overturn Michigan's new right to work law. Yes those same unions that led to the mess Detroit is in now. They lost their court challenge...

Michigan appeals court rules against unions in right-to-work case (http://news.yahoo.com/michigan-appeals-court-rules-against-unions-case-222425873.html)

Darn, mandatory union dues may finally be a goner. I'm sure Obama is not happy.

Right or wrong court decision? Should workers have choice or not?

It was a wrong decision. On this one the courts messed up because the way the union works is with solidarity of its membership. This phrase is the downfall of the decision.

Quote:
The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that the legislature had the authority to create the law that makes union fees voluntary because it has the constitutional right to "speak for the people on matters of significant public concern."

The state can speak for people all they want but they can't speak for the union. The union is the one bartering your contract and it is put to a vote. The courts stepped in it this time.

Took me a bit but I found the actual part of the ruling referred to instead of the spin.


Accordingly, we hold that, contrary to plaintiffs’ claim, it is within the authority of the Legislature to pass laws on public policy matters in general and particularly those, as here, that unquestionably implicate constitutional rights of both union and nonunion public employees. Neither the language of Const 1963, art 11, § 5, the history of civil service law in the state of Michigan, nor the language of Const 1963, art 4, §§ 48-49, precluded the Legislature from enacting PA 349, and applying this statute to the classified civil service. The CSC’s power to “regulate” civil service employment does not infringe on the legislative power under art 4, § 49, to enact laws relative to conditions of employment, and applying those laws toward all employment in the state, public and private, civil service or non-civil service. Finally, Michigan case law fully supports the principle that the Legislature as the policymaking branch of government, has the power to pass labor laws of general applicability that also apply to classified civil service employees. For these reasons, we hold that 2012 PA 349 is constitutional as applied to classified civil service positions in Michigan. (p. 17)

Court of Appeals upholds Freedom to Work law - ABC 10 (http://abc10up.com/court-of-appeals-upholds-freedom-to-work-law/)

Why should we even be surprised that republicans are moving to destroy unions and take away the people power to negotiate and empower work rules and conditions that make workers quality of life better?

What better way to write the rules that take away pensions and carves the land up for investors to make big bucks for themselves. What better way to take full advantage of region crippled by the los of jobs, revenue, and population?

Its been done before, and they will do it again as republicans yet again collude with business to extract profits and make more poor people. What follows are more depressed wages, and more minimum wage jobs with a lot less benefits. You can hate unions and bosses all you want to for whatever reasons, but you cannot deny it's a sad state of affairs when you end up with workers needing two service industry jobs to be poor.

Unions will be back, like it or not because poverty and log hours tends to make ordinary workers dissatisfied with the way things are going, and the bosses that make profit off their labor.

Worker wages: Wendy's vs. Walmart vs. Costco | Money - Home (http://www.clickondetroit.com/money/worker-wages-wendys-vs-walmart-vs-costco/-/1719116/21346794/-/107kfa0z/-/index.html)

Funny how the small government, anti union crowd always support smaller wages, and fewer rights.

Tal, like I've said over and over we don't need unions to ensure worker safety any more. You can argue about negotiating wages and such but some of us don't want our money going to unions to advance political policies we don't support. You shouldn't be forced to give money to advance a political agenda you oppose.

But you take the wages and benefits fast enough.

But you take the wages and benefits fast enough.

You not only expect others to compromise their beliefs and values for your agenda you expect us to pay for it, too. In your words that would make you a BULLY. Get the unions out of politics and we can talk.

You blame the unions while unemployment rose dramatically during the economic downturn caused by the banks. You blame the democrats while you oppose and obstruct any job bills. You blame working women for destroying the family. You blame gays for destroying marriage.

Then you have the nerve to blame US for making you compromise your principles, taking your rights, and making you pay for it? That's exactly why we call you righties loony.

You blame the unions while unemployment rose dramatically during the economic downturn caused by the banks. You blame the democrats while you oppose and obstruct any job bills. You blame working women for destroying the family. You blame gays for destroying marriage.

Then you have the nerve to blame US for making you compromise your principles, taking your rights, and making you pay for it? That's exactly why we call you righties loony.

We aren't the ones trying to force the church to buy contraception and pay for unions to advocate against our beliefs.

Like I said, have unions drop the liberal politics and let's talk. I shouldn't be forced to pay for someone to advocate against my beliefs, or go around the country getting violent with other Americans as they did with tea parties and terrorizing bankers homes with children in them. That's just crazy, Tal, and you would object if it were the other way around. Don't pretend you wouldn't.

We have debated your so called forcing churches to buy contraceptives so I will skip that, but how are YOU, a non union type person paying anybody to advocate for THEIR belief, which you disagree with, but it is THEIR beliefs.

So it's okay to can MY rights and beliefs so you can have yours? That's a lot of nerve. Still looking for that violence against the TParty.

That violence against the Tea Party had been documented here before as was the bus trip harassing businessmen at their home with children inside. Here's the thing, no one is prohibiting you from being in a union and paying dues so no one is infringing on your rights, that's a bogus argument.

Skip the "I" and insert "no one" If the point didn't get across. No one should be FORCED to pay for someone advocating against their beliefs and values. It's not that complicated. How about I take YOUR money and use it to lobby against abortion, picket Planned Parenthood, harass abortionists at home? You wouldn't mind would you?

My tax payer money pays the salary of lawmakers who do things I don't like, but no union is taking your money, but you benefit.

And isolated incidences are hardly wide spread violence against the TParty, while the assaults on workers, minorities and women goes on. And did you make excuse about top and frisk? Maybe not you but conservative support it.

So you wouldn't mind me taking part of your wages and using it to fund conservative causes. Cool, send me a check. Be sure and send enough to pad my back account, too.

You just going to stick to the convoluted story about people taking your money huh? Bored before game time? :D

Why should we even be surprised that republicans are moving to destroy unions and take away the people power to negotiate and empower work rules and conditions that make workers quality of life better?

What better way to write the rules that take away pensions and carves the land up for investors to make big bucks for themselves. What better way to take full advantage of region crippled by the los of jobs, revenue, and population?

Its been done before, and they will do it again as republicans yet again collude with business to extract profits and make more poor people. What follows are more depressed wages, and more minimum wage jobs with a lot less benefits. You can hate unions and bosses all you want to for whatever reasons, but you cannot deny its a sad state of affairs when you end up with workers needing two service industry jobs to be poor.

Unions will be back, like it or not because poverty and log hours tends to make ordinary workers dissatisfied with the way things are going, and the bosses that make profit off their labor.

Worker wages: Wendy's vs. Walmart vs. Costco | Money - Home (http://www.clickondetroit.com/money/worker-wages-wendys-vs-walmart-vs-costco/-/1719116/21346794/-/107kfa0z/-/index.html)

Funny how the small government, anti union crowd always support smaller wages, and fewer rights.

Said as jobs and rank and file alike move out of the state to places that already have 'right to work' laws.

You mean companies with unions opening in the southern states?

Capital goes where it's welcome and stays where it's well treated. (Walter B. Wriston )

Funny you should mention the guy that helped save NY from bankruptcy. We can't do that anymore can we? Wonder why?

You just going to stick to the convoluted story about people taking your money huh? Bored before game time? :D

The term is 'mandatory union dues' I believe and as I said, get the unions out of politics and we can talk. No one should be forced to pay for unions to advocate for policies and candidates they oppose. And no, I was bored during game time, five first half turnovers? Typical Cowboys.

You aren't in a union, so what's your problem? Shouldn't those decision of who to support with time and money be left to dues paying member?

I turned back to baseball after Bryant's fumble. Schedule is clear for next Saturday. Chomping at the bit. :D

You aren't in a union, so what's your problem? Shouldn't those decision of who to support with time and money be left to dues paying member?

I see you're from the Trumka school of Orwellianism. What part of coercion do you not get? Shouldn't workers have the right to choose how to spend their paychecks? I am a worker and I stand in solidarity with those who deserve the choice of whether to fund a union's political activity or be in the union at all. It's called freedom of choice.

You aren't in a union, so what's your problem? Shouldn't those decision of who to support with time and money be left to dues paying member
So of course you favor of private ballot elections for union leadership... right ? I'll tell you that the rank and file have no say . Their dues are deducted direct from their paychecks and they vote in card check elections . When the employer, union organizer, and co-workers knows exactly how you vote then it is not free choice... and of course all you libs like choice.

http://www.iaff.org/politics/PDF/hardvsoft.pdf

The state regulates how contributions can be made and maybe you didn't know that unions have super-packs just like corporation and parties do and it's a voluntary contribution.

My union has you sign a voluntary consent form with a specific amount for political contributions.

so of course you favor of private ballot elections for union leadership ...right ? I'll tell you that the rank and file have no say . Their dues are deducted direct from their paychecks and they vote in card check elections . When the employer, union organizer, and co-workers knows exactly how you vote then it is not free choice ....and of course all you libs like choice.

If its supposed to be a free choice then let the worker decide. My understanding is under card check, or secret ballot, employers never know how individuals voted.

Where I come from union ballots are conducted under outside supervision and secret ballot conditions, it keeps the gangsters out of the decision

If its supposed to be a free choice then let the worker decide. My understanding is under card check, or secret ballot, employers never know how individuals voted.

That isn't the issue . The union leadership knows how they voted and can exert pressure on them to vote the way the leadership wants them to. I've worked in factories where unions were trying to organize... It wasn't pretty . Before I walked in the door to punch in I had to endure the union's pressure on a daily basis .

Taking flyers and listening to the speil is pressure? And what kind of pressure is there after a vote? You exaggerate the problem a bit Tom, and scare yourself because like Speech you hate unions, and have no need for them. That's cool, but don't speak for anyone else but you because some of us love our union, and the protections and benefits they afford us, even with a good employer, which I also enjoyed.

Neither of you seems impressed by the fact that unions even help non union member with far wages and a quality of life you may not have except for the work of union. Even in right to work states. That's okay too. I get different strokes for different folks.

Taking flyers and listening to the speil is pressure? You have no idea... and it goes far beyond that to implied threats . I saw coworkers walk out at the end of the day to find flat tires... you get the picture ?

I have a good idea of conflicts between factions and the extremes that can be huge, I mean they do find union people dead or missing, and some do get carried away, but the same thing often is seen among other walks of life, not just unions.

I could relate many scary disturbing things that have nothing to do with union issues. It is hard sometimes to separate deeply held feeling and beliefs with the bad behavior of a few, and I can remember what it was like during the steel dumping in the 80's, and the imports that flooded the markets. It was nasty since we also had massive layoffs, and wage cuts. Many disruptions of the peace and security.

I imagine the same can be said of the white collar world as blue collar, middle class people have been plain savaged, and the ones who don't have to shower after 8 hours are pretty desperate to hold onto what they have. I get all that.

Unions lose in Wisconsin... again

Federal judge rules Wisconsin's union reforms constitutional | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/11/us-usa-unions-wisconsin-idUSBRE98A19F20130911?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=574655)

And unions are still losing in Wisconsin...



Kenosha Teachers Vote Down Union, Empowered by Wisconsin Labor Reforms (http://cei.org/news-releases/kenosha-teachers-vote-down-union-empowered-wisconsin-labor-reforms)
A Victory for Wisconsin Taxpayers and Worker Freedom of Choice
By Brian McNicoll
September 12, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. Sept. 12, 2013 – Today, teachers in Kenosha, Wis. voted to decertify their union, the Kenosha Education Association, by a margin of nearly two to one. Only 37 percent of the teachers opted to retain the union in an election made possible by the labor reforms enacted under Gov. Scott Walker (R). The result goes to show that when workers have a choice on whether to join a union instead of being forced into one by law, they often choose to vote down the union.

Competitive Enterprise Institute labor policy analyst Matt Patterson said regarding the vote in Kenosha:

“Gov. Walker’s bold and effective reforms have loosened the grip of unions on Wisconsin's public purse, to the benefit of taxpayers and to the detriment of Big Labor bosses. The news today proves what unions have long feared - that when workers are actually given a free and fair choice, they will often choose opt out of union membership altogether.

“The public at large—and an increasing number of union members—have become wise to the fact labor unions stifle innovation and burden governments and businesses with unsustainable costs and regulations."


Funny how when people have the choice they quite often exercise that choice to tell the union where to stick it.