BAC Journal > Michigan’s Restoring Workers’ Rights Package a Win for Working People

Michigan’s Restoring Workers’ Rights Package a Win for Working People

2023 Issue 1
Legislative & Political

Working people in Michigan had a great victory in March with passage of The Restoring Workers’ Rights package, repealing the state’s decade-old public and private sector right-to-work laws and restoring prevailing wage requirements.

Local 2 Michigan BAC with legislators inside the Capital Building during the Senate vote for the Restoring Workers’ Rights package.
BAC with legislators inside the Capital Building during the Senate vote for the Restoring Workers’ Rights package. From left to right Local 2 Michigan Organizer Ignacio Amoles, North Central Regional Representative Raul Zamarron, Joe Lobodzinski, Local 2 Michigan Field Representative Daryl Nichols, BAC Executive Vice President Keith Hocevar, Local 2 Michigan Field Representative Greg Lobozinski, Retired Local 2 MI Field Representative Jim Ritchie, State of Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Local 2 Michigan Field Representative/Organizer Trevor Grace, Local 2 Michigan Vice Chairperson James Brylowski, and Local 2 Michigan Field Representative Chad Morrison.

Since Michigan’s “right-to-work” law passed in 2012, the state’s unionization rates have declined faster than the nation’s rates, and the state’s relative average wage plummeted. The law has had a devastating effect on unionization, worker pay and benefits, and the middle class.

The anti-union climate in the state is changing, however, with new pro-worker majorities in the state legislature taking direct steps to undo the damage from a decade ago, and empowering working people in Michigan.

On March 15, the Senate passed legislation repealing the state’s private sector right-to-work law (SB 34).

The Restoring Workers’ Rights package also includes SB 6, which the Senate passed on March 14. The bill would reinstate Michigan’s prevailing wage law and require workers to be paid the prevailing wage and fringe benefits on state projects.

Members from various labor unions at the Capitol building in Lansing, MI, watching the Senate pass the Restoring Workers’ Rights package.
Members from various labor unions at the Capitol building in Lansing, MI, watching the Senate pass the Restoring Workers’ Rights package.

After the Michigan House voted for all private sector right to work repeal and prevailing wage reinstatement, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed the entire Restoring Workers’ Rights package into law on March 24. “These bills will protect health and safety,” Gov. Whitmer said in a statement. “Construction workers can speak up when there’s a safety issue and employees can call attention to... other problems. Let’s continue delivering for working people and ensuring Michigan is open for business.”

“We told our members that if they voted for pro-worker candidates, that those candidates would make this state work for workers again by repealing the anti-labor laws passed when the right-wing had control,” said Local 2 Michigan President Paul Dunford. “Once in o–ce, we made sure the legislators did not forget why they were there, and they set to work right away fixing the damage. We are proud to again be in a state that values workers and organized labor.”