Is workforce freedom coming to the bastion of U.S. unionism? Michigan, long known as a union stronghold, may become a right-to-work state. Some legislators are backing the adoption of right-to-work legislation, something that would finally free Michigan workers from the grip of forced unionization.
Right-to-work laws prohibit unions from forcing people to join as a condition of employment. Twenty-two states have such laws, and these states largely experience higher job and compensation growth than non right-to-work states. Right-to-work laws don’t prohibit workers from joining a union if they want; they simply prevent compulsory unionization. It’s a matter of basic fairness that is supported by a majority of Michigan voters.
Labor bosses, such as those at the powerful United Auto Workers, have a long history in Michigan. Not coincidentally, Michigan’s economy has been doing worse than most states’ economies in the recent recession. In fact, the state’s economy had been struggling for years before the recession gripped the rest of the country. The tight hold union bosses have on the state has helped enrich Big Labor, but it has not done much for the average Michigan worker.
The prospects of right-to-work legislation in Michigan are unclear, but the fact that it’s being considered illustrates the growing desire among Michigan workers and businesses for freedom from union boss coercion.
This backlash against forced unionism isn’t limited to Michigan—and it has Big Labor scared. That’s why union bosses are leveraging their connections with the Obama Administration to undermine worker freedom through regulatory channels. The Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board and National Mediation Board are working overtime to bail out Big Labor. We need to stand against these union giveaways and force the Obama Administration to represent workers, not union bosses.