Michigan Votes Forum

The time is NOW for legislation granting ALL Michigan workers the FREEDOM to not join a union, or be required to give money to a union as condition of employment.  If a minority of Republican's in the House or Senate block or defeat a worker Freedom Bill, those law makers will pay with their seats.

Now is not the time, nor will their ever be a time, when working people should give up the right to join together to collectively bargain for a fair share of a companies profits, and to influence our politicians in matters that relate to the welfare of working men and women.

@Gypsy - Freedom to Work supports worker rights to choose to join and give their money to a labor union.  You CAN be Pro-Union and FOR Freedom To Work!  The top man in the Michigan Freedom To Work Coalition is a UAW member.  In 2010, under the current labor law killing job growth in Michigan, Labor Unions LOST 7.7% of their membership.

A Freedom To Work law would increase job growth AND union membership in Michigan.

Samuel Adams:

The time is NOW for legislation granting ALL Michigan workers the FREEDOM to not join a union, or be required to give money to a union as condition of employment.  If a minority of Republican's in the House or Senate block or defeat a worker Freedom Bill, those law makers will pay with their seats.

 I totally agree , it is time for free choice!!!!

 It is past time for legislation to grant all Michigan workers the freedom to NOT join a Union. I have just found out that my Union has been collecting dues on my Benefits as well as my base wage...so they have way over collected from me and I am sure all of the other Union workers in my district. They also have in their bylaws that they don't have to fix their wrongs if they have over collected if you don't find those mistakes within a year. Nobody cares what the Union IS NOT doing for their workers. Even sites like this only support situations that further themselves and or issues with broad based implications. They don't care about  an individual, only if their are hundreds of individuals that are wronged. You not only have to give money to the Union as a condition of employment, but you have to continue to give money to the Union as an unemployeed person in hopes that you can get your job back even when they collaborate to make sure that never happens.

Unions bargained for your benefits and wages. If a worker would prefer not having benefits, or a living wage, I don't think they'd need to look very hard for another job where there is not a union, or benefits, or decent wages.

Gypsy - it is apparent by your comment that you cannot see it possible for people to work with out the goverment and unions to place their regulations on bussiness this is the problem, more regulations drives bussiness away. a true jobs bill would be downsizing goverments role in private business, we dont need more legislation to let people work and not organize.  Just let them excercise thier 1st amendment right and go to work for the same money, next to the union personell, whom you claim have carried the water anyway. - anyword on that three day weekend ? who we have to talk to ?- right to do businesss at your service.

Yes, that is not all they bargained for. I paid my dues to be treated as a Union member, and to get the benefits and support that I have paid for. All the information regarding Union dues can be found at the MEA website for all of those who pay dues. I have found that they have been taking more than what I owe out of my check. It is the responsibility of the Union officers to make sure that they represent you, as well as making sure that you are paying the correct amount. I also wasn't give a choice as to whether or not I could join, I was made to join, and I didn't pay for them to mistreat me or mis-use my money. Obviously you don't live in Michigan,or you would know that it is VERY hard to find a job with or without unions, benefits, and or decent wages.

Yes behonest, it is very hard to find a job in Michigan, especially without a good education.

Behonest - First I am a Michigan business Person,  nobody in their right mind would start a bussiness in michigan. However I employ  non-union hardworking employees, Im not here disputing the MEA the right to do business in our state is my cause. The MEA's action could be defeated with an ink pen.

your concerns for bad union management are not alone. Some advice on how to pay your dues ask them if you can write them the check yourself this will give you ample legal rights to fight for the services that you were charged for and if they were promises then they are probably are just that. your support for a right to do bussiness will be needed in michigan . Teaching is a skill be proud of who you are.

Our biggest problem in michigan is the regulation nation, somehow the unions have felt their need to become involved even more politically this is going in the wrong direction for them. 

funny thing though unions used to support made in usa 100% now it seems to be made by union.

I also have been a Michigan small business owner, and have employed non-union hard working employees, Doing business in Michigan is a great cause and one that I do support. However,  you are wrong when it comes to the MEA. and thier actions, they can't be defeated with an ink pen. If it was that easy, it would be a done deal already.

 RTB, and Behonest. I also am a smallbusiness owner, I am now the only employee I lease commerical properties that I own. I had a succesful company for 38 yrs. I saw the future in 2008 and sold my business. I employed many dozens of hard working people and payed them a very good salary with benifits. I helped a few of them start they're own business's. These where non-union self motivated people. These people belived in "self" not the "collective".

The MEA is a strong union even though roughly 45% of members disagree with it  In my opion there is no place in public employment for unions. I also belive Michigan should be a right to work state.

oldvet, thank you for your support and that is what i have been looking for many years the belief in "Self" .

Behonest- Im not sure where i was wrong about the MEA but youve made some interesting comments even about the NEA today, if you think for one minute you cannot win or prevail you are finished.

The only way to defeat them is by ink pen and im doing it again today lodging another complaint.

 Really?  How is it fair or even right for a person to participate and not have to pay.  You can't even go to Costco unless you pay for a membership.  If you want to free these poor people then don't require the unions to represent them.  As it stands now, with your Freedom (my butt)  to work legislation a union member can refuse to pay dues and gets the same as every one else.  Try that at Augusta National and see if you can play without paying for a membership.  Really, why don't you try playing poker with your buddies, they probably will let you play without putting in the ante, right?  This is nonsense and the sneaky appropriations bill put in place to disinfranchise Michigan voters from the right to a ballot initiative could get this legislation tossed and I hope it does.