After the swearing-in of new state senators and representatives on Jan. 11, Michigan Democrats began the process of bringing a longtime legislative priority to fruition- the repeal of Michigan's right-to-work laws.

Rep. Regina Weiss, D-Oak Park, introduced legislation to the state House which would amend existing labor legislation – in particular the "right-to-work" law. Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, sponsored the legislation in the Senate.

In a press statement, Weiss called the phrase "right-to-work" a "lie" and said the laws have hurt Michiganders.

"House Democrats will always stand in solidarity with working families, and these bills deliver on our promise to put them first," Weiss said in the statement.

Right-to-work, which in Michigan was officially coined “Freedom to Work” legislation, is a series of laws which went into effect in March 2013 after a lame-duck passage by then-governor Rick Snyder. After Snyder's signing, Michigan became the 24th state to have a right-to-work law, which acts to prohibit employees of a unionized-workplace from having to pay dues to the union. Snyder, at the time, called the legislation a "great statement for workers."

Before and after Snyder signed the bill, it was met with pushback and protests from union members, including members of MSU's unionized workforce.

Since 2013, unions have been fighting for the law's repeal.

Many unions argue that right-to-work allows non-union workers in union shops to reap the benefits of collective...

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