Hundreds of union workers protested outside the Capitol in Lansing today. Inside, Republicans were pushing controversial anti-union legislation that would make Michigan the nation’s 24th right-to-work state. The legislation would strip power from the state’s labor movement, including the historic auto unions of Detroit.
Republicans in the House introduced the bill this morning, attaching it to other legislation in order to bypass rules that require a 5-day waiting period before action can be taken on new bills. The bill passed the House after Democrats walked out symbolically. It was still being debated in the Senate late into the afternoon.
Democrats are accusing the GOP of taking action during the lame duck session because they will not have the votes to pass the bill when newly elected lawmakers take office next year. Governor Rick Snyder praised the move earlier this week, announcing it was time for lawmakers “to step up and make some decisions.” Snyder’s pledge to sign the right-to-work legislation came as a surprising change of course to many, as he had previously discouraged his colleagues in the State House from taking up the legislation.
The Capitol was put on lock-down after protesters flooded the Capitol early in the day. Eight demonstrators were arrested for obstructing and resisting, and police used pepper spray on rowdy protesters.
Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero was on PoliticsNation Thursday blasting Republicans over their power grab, calling it a “sad day” in Michigan. “This is an absolute attack on unions,” he said. “It’s the right to work for less. We know that six out of the top ten states in unemployment are right-to-work states.”








