On March 24, 2023, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law reconciled Senate Bill 34/House Bill HB4005, which officially repealed Michigan’s “right-to-work” law, which has been in effect since 2012.

The core issue that right-to-work laws seek to address is the “union security clause” — a provision in a contract between a union and employer (called a collective bargaining agreement) that requires the employer to fire any employee who fails to pay dues or other required payments to the union.

Union security clauses are legal under federal law. However, a state can pass a “right-to-work” law to prohibit employers and unions from including union security clauses in their contracts. When a state elects to be a “right-to-work” state, employees will not lose their jobs if they choose not to financially support a union. The more employees opt out, the less revenue unions in that state receive from the employees they represent.

The United States is divided on this issue. About half of U.S. states and Guam have a “right-to-work” law. But Michigan is no longer among them. Effective immediately: “An employer and a labor organization may enter into a collective bargaining agreement that requires all employees in the bargaining unit to share fairly in the financial support of the labor organization.”

"Right-to-work" laws are often enacted (and repealed) along political party lines, and Michigan is no exception. The 2012 “right-to-work” statute passed under a Republican governor, Senate...

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