Labor Unions take another step forward as the right-to-work law repeal starts Tuesday

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Tuesday, Feb. 13 will be the first day of the right-to-work repeal.

Originally enacted in 2012 by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, the law allowed union workers to opt out of paying dues and fees but still receive union representation.

Now all members of a union can be required to pay for the cost of representation at the bargaining table. Something that Ron Bieber the President of Michigan AFL-CIO said this repeal will make for stronger unions and in turn a stronger economy.

“If we want to make Michigan a place where people want to come and raise a family and build their careers for the long haul, it is critical that we have got these strong workplace protections,“ he said.

Beiber said starting Tuesday, workers in Michigan have leveled the field and taken back rights he says they should have had all along.

“Today we have got a democratic trifecta in Lansing that frankly stands up for workers and wants Michigan to be a strong workers’ rights state where people got a fair chance to have a shot at a decent life”, he Bieber.

Not everyone is happy about the new change.

Josh Leadford with the MASUD Labor Law Group said when the labor union’s power increases so to does the cost of that labor.

“States that are viewed as more union-friendly, lose in the end in that businesses don’t choose to locate to those locations,” Leadford said.

Leadford said another issue with the repeal is that that unions will be allowed to target non-union workplaces in order to get more money in dues.

Michigan now becomes the first state in 58 years to repeal a right-to-work law; 26 states currently still have right-to-work laws in place.

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