Michigan lawmakers have just approved bills that will repeal Michigan’s 2012 right-to-work law for private sector workers, ushering in a new day for labor relations in the state. When the two bills are reconciled and final language approved, Governor Whitmer has indicated she will sign the final bill into law. “Right to work” laws actually prohibit employers from requiring that their employees pay union dues as a condition of employment. In light of this news, what should private sector unionized employers do?
What Is “Right-To-Work”?
Before summarizing the situation, here’s a brief summary of “right-to-work” laws for those unfamiliar with the concept or in need of a refresher. Right-to-work laws generally make it unlawful to require a person to be or become a union member, or to pay union dues, as a condition of initial or continued employment. The name comes from the idea that people should be allowed to work without having to financially support organizations or causes that they do not morally support.
Proponents of such measures believe that they create jobs by attracting new employers to a business-friendly environment. Union advocates, on the other hand, argue that union-represented employees should share the cost of union representation.
Right-to-work laws do not prevent people from joining or supporting unions, they just prohibit requiring them to do so. In other words, they do not block those who want to join or support a union, but simply allow employees to make...
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