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April 5, 2023

Legal News

POP LEGAL
April 5, 2023

Repeal of Right to Work Law

This past week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill to repeal the state's "right-to-work" law, which had been in place for ten years. This makes Michigan the first state in decades to reverse such legislation, signifying a major triumph for organized labor in a state with a long history of robust union support.

The "right-to-work" law, initially enacted by a Republican-majority legislature over a decade ago, permitted employees in unionized workplaces to refrain from paying union dues and fees. The repeal comes at a time when union membership hit an all-time low last year.

Right-to-work laws, which exist at the state level in the United States, regulate union security agreements between employers and labor unions. These laws aim to prevent agreements that require union membership or dues payment as a condition of employment.

In states with right-to-work laws, employees can choose whether or not to join a union and are not forced to pay union dues or fees for employment. Advocates of these laws argue that they protect individual freedom of association and prevent workers from being coerced into unwanted union relationships. They also believe that right-to-work laws attract businesses and stimulate economic growth.

Conversely, critics assert that right-to-work laws weaken labor unions, result in lower wages and benefits for workers, and encourage "free-riding" by employees who benefit from collective bargaining without contributing to the union's endeavors.

The attorneys at Outside Legal Counsel LLP are proficient in helping clients understand their rights under such laws.    

This is not legal advice and is attorney advertising.

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