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| Obama condemns Michigan 'right to work' laws as protesters head for capitol | Obama condemns Michigan 'right to work' laws as protesters head for capitol |
| (7 days later) | |
| Barack Obama has intervened in the controversy over "right to work" legislation, during a visit to Michigan on the eve of a mass protest against the state's new union-restricting measures. | Barack Obama has intervened in the controversy over "right to work" legislation, during a visit to Michigan on the eve of a mass protest against the state's new union-restricting measures. |
| In a speech in Detroit on Monday, the president said such legislation would only give workers the "right to work for less money". Thousands of union members are expected to protest at the Michigan state capitol in Lansing on Tuesday. | In a speech in Detroit on Monday, the president said such legislation would only give workers the "right to work for less money". Thousands of union members are expected to protest at the Michigan state capitol in Lansing on Tuesday. |
| The Republican-dominated Michigan state senate voted in favour of a right-to-work bill on Thursday, by 22 votes to 16. Governor Rick Synder has said he will sign the bill into law on Tuesday. | The Republican-dominated Michigan state senate voted in favour of a right-to-work bill on Thursday, by 22 votes to 16. Governor Rick Synder has said he will sign the bill into law on Tuesday. |
| Obama was in Michigan to discuss his plans for avoiding the fiscal cliff, arguing the case for higher taxes on the richest Americans. He told workers at the Daimler plant in Detroit that the three bills awaiting Snyder's signature "don't have to do with economics". | Obama was in Michigan to discuss his plans for avoiding the fiscal cliff, arguing the case for higher taxes on the richest Americans. He told workers at the Daimler plant in Detroit that the three bills awaiting Snyder's signature "don't have to do with economics". |
| "They have everything to do with politics," he said. | "They have everything to do with politics," he said. |
| "What we shouldn't be doing is try to take away your rights to bargain for better wages or working conditions," Obama said. "We don't want a race to the bottom. We want a race to the top." Union leaders in Michigan have been training members in methods of "peaceful civil disobedience", in preparation for the protest on Tuesday. Supporters of the right-to-work law, which among other measures would prohibit unions from collecting fees from non-union workers, are also expected to demonstrate at the state capitol in Lansing. | "What we shouldn't be doing is try to take away your rights to bargain for better wages or working conditions," Obama said. "We don't want a race to the bottom. We want a race to the top." Union leaders in Michigan have been training members in methods of "peaceful civil disobedience", in preparation for the protest on Tuesday. Supporters of the right-to-work law, which among other measures would prohibit unions from collecting fees from non-union workers, are also expected to demonstrate at the state capitol in Lansing. |
| The Teamsters union, which helped host the training sessions at the weekend, said hundreds of people were "ready to get arrested" in the push against right-to-work legislation. | The Teamsters union, which helped host the training sessions at the weekend, said hundreds of people were "ready to get arrested" in the push against right-to-work legislation. |
| Union officials said the mass demonstration outside the capitol would be accompanied by flash mobs, rallies and news conferences throughout the day. | Union officials said the mass demonstration outside the capitol would be accompanied by flash mobs, rallies and news conferences throughout the day. |
| Dawn Kettinger, from the Michigan Nurses Association, told the Guardian that "at least 10,000 people" would protest at the state capitol on Tuesday. "This will be the biggest event like this that Michigan has ever seen," she said. "People understand this is part of what is happening across our country. People are trying to buy our government in state after state, the assault on the middle class is continuing." | Dawn Kettinger, from the Michigan Nurses Association, told the Guardian that "at least 10,000 people" would protest at the state capitol on Tuesday. "This will be the biggest event like this that Michigan has ever seen," she said. "People understand this is part of what is happening across our country. People are trying to buy our government in state after state, the assault on the middle class is continuing." |
| Eight people were arrested at the capitol on Thursday, as state senators voted on the legislation. Police said the arrests came after some of the crowd had attempted to rush into the senate. Officers used pepper spray on some of the protesters. | Eight people were arrested at the capitol on Thursday, as state senators voted on the legislation. Police said the arrests came after some of the crowd had attempted to rush into the senate. Officers used pepper spray on some of the protesters. |
| Opponents of the "right to work" laws said the bills had been rushed through the legislature. Democrats said Republicans had wanted to act to pass the law before a new senate takes office next month – when the Republicans will be weakened, as the party lost five house seats in the November elections. | Opponents of the "right to work" laws said the bills had been rushed through the legislature. Democrats said Republicans had wanted to act to pass the law before a new senate takes office next month – when the Republicans will be weakened, as the party lost five house seats in the November elections. |
| Should the bills be signed into law on Tuesday, Michigan will become the 24th state to introduce "right to work" legislation. Unions argue that wages in right-to-work states are lower than those which do not have the legislation. In February last year a study by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute found that wages in right-to-work states are on average 3.2% lower than states without such legislation. | Should the bills be signed into law on Tuesday, Michigan will become the 24th state to introduce "right to work" legislation. Unions argue that wages in right-to-work states are lower than those which do not have the legislation. In February last year a study by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute found that wages in right-to-work states are on average 3.2% lower than states without such legislation. |
| The right-to-work legislation in Michigan is made up of three bills – senate bill 116 and two house bills, 4003 and 4054. The legislation would make it illegal for workers to be required to pay union dues as a condition of employment, which Republicans say would attract more jobs. | The right-to-work legislation in Michigan is made up of three bills – senate bill 116 and two house bills, 4003 and 4054. The legislation would make it illegal for workers to be required to pay union dues as a condition of employment, which Republicans say would attract more jobs. |
| Opponents of the law say that the bill can lead to a "free rider" problem, where workers do not pay union fees yet still get the benefits of collective bargaining by the union, funded by members. Democrats have criticised the legislation as existing to curb the power of the unions. | Opponents of the law say that the bill can lead to a "free rider" problem, where workers do not pay union fees yet still get the benefits of collective bargaining by the union, funded by members. Democrats have criticised the legislation as existing to curb the power of the unions. |
| Neighbouring Indiana passed a right-to-work law earlier this year, becoming the first rust-belt state to do so. Previously, most right-to-work states had been in the south. | Neighbouring Indiana passed a right-to-work law earlier this year, becoming the first rust-belt state to do so. Previously, most right-to-work states had been in the south. |
| More than 3,000 people have signed up to a Facebook event page created for Tuesday's planned protests. Attendees are encouraged to wear red, to show their opposition to the legislation. On Monday the Michigan branch of National Nurses United protested outside the capitol, protesters fixing tape over their mouths. | More than 3,000 people have signed up to a Facebook event page created for Tuesday's planned protests. Attendees are encouraged to wear red, to show their opposition to the legislation. On Monday the Michigan branch of National Nurses United protested outside the capitol, protesters fixing tape over their mouths. |
| "Nurses are outraged at governor Snyder's war on workers, knowing that the wounds he is inflicting on our state will hurt for decades to come," said Katie Oppenheim, a registered nurse from Ann Arbor. "Our union is our voice in the workplace, and nurses use that voice every single day to keep patients safe against corporations that only care about their profits. Governor Snyder and CEOs are using right to work to shut workers up, pure and simple." | "Nurses are outraged at governor Snyder's war on workers, knowing that the wounds he is inflicting on our state will hurt for decades to come," said Katie Oppenheim, a registered nurse from Ann Arbor. "Our union is our voice in the workplace, and nurses use that voice every single day to keep patients safe against corporations that only care about their profits. Governor Snyder and CEOs are using right to work to shut workers up, pure and simple." |
| The NNU will be among several unions with a presence in Lansing on Tuesday. Last week protesters received a boost when the NFL Players Association came out against right to work. | The NNU will be among several unions with a presence in Lansing on Tuesday. Last week protesters received a boost when the NFL Players Association came out against right to work. |
| "We stood up against this in the past, and we stand against it in its current form in Michigan," George Atallah, the association's assistant executive director for external affairs, told ThinkProgress. "Our leadership and players are always proud to stand with workers in Michigan and everywhere else. We don't think voters chose this, and we don't think workers deserve this." | "We stood up against this in the past, and we stand against it in its current form in Michigan," George Atallah, the association's assistant executive director for external affairs, told ThinkProgress. "Our leadership and players are always proud to stand with workers in Michigan and everywhere else. We don't think voters chose this, and we don't think workers deserve this." |
| Michigan state police posted the rules of the state capitol over the weekend and said it would be strictly enforcing the guidelines, which say action should not interfere with a legislative session or threaten the safety of those who work at the capitol. Streets will be closed to traffic around the building on Tuesday morning, in anticipation of large numbers of protesters. | Michigan state police posted the rules of the state capitol over the weekend and said it would be strictly enforcing the guidelines, which say action should not interfere with a legislative session or threaten the safety of those who work at the capitol. Streets will be closed to traffic around the building on Tuesday morning, in anticipation of large numbers of protesters. |
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