PA 54 of 2011 is a short-sighted republican joke. It prohibits any merit increases (pay raises based on time served) when negotiated labor contracts have expired. It also puts any increases in healthcare costs on the employees. Just a real nice employer, the state of Michigan is. So there's absolutely no incentive for the employer to negotiate a new contract - it never has to pay any more in wages or benefits and the employees are barred by law from striking.
So the working men and women of Michigan that are hourly employees of the state in any capacity will only see their incomes shrink and healthcare expenses increase as they become poorer and of course the legislators will vote themselves raise after raise after raise. Nice state, this MICHIGAN. Real family friendly and loyal to their employees. We can only hope that at least the transit employees can be exempted, but don't plan on it. Not with these jerkwads in office.