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Michigan passes 'right-to-work' legislation | Michigan passes 'right-to-work' legislation |
(35 minutes later) | |
Lawmakers in the state of Michigan, a cradle of the US labour movement, have passed a law limiting union power, amid mass protests at the statehouse. | |
Republicans, who control the state legislature, have succeeded in banning a requirement that workers pay union fees as a condition of employment. | |
The so-called "right-to-work" bill will now be signed into law by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. | |
Passage of the measure makes Michigan the 24th right-to-work state. | Passage of the measure makes Michigan the 24th right-to-work state. |
Inside the state capitol, protesters chanted "shame on you" as the bill, which applies to public-sector workers, passed the chamber by a vote of 58-51. | |
Meanwhile, Democrats - who hold a 46-64 minority to Republicans - unsuccessfully tried to have the vote reconsidered. | |
Attracting jobs? | |
Some 12,000 people turned out amid freezing temperatures to protest against the law, according to police estimates. | |
One demonstrator, Valerie Constance, a member of the American Federation of Teachers, told the Associated Press: "I do think this is a very sad day in Michigan history." | One demonstrator, Valerie Constance, a member of the American Federation of Teachers, told the Associated Press: "I do think this is a very sad day in Michigan history." |
Wrangles over right-to-work laws have played out over weeks in some states, but the bill passed in Lansing was introduced only last week. | Wrangles over right-to-work laws have played out over weeks in some states, but the bill passed in Lansing was introduced only last week. |
It was approved in the Michigan House of Representatives on Tuesday following its passage in the state senate last week. | |
Correspondents say backers of the bill were emboldened after an attempt to enshrine pro-union collective bargaining rights in the state constitution during last month's elections failed badly. | |
Proponents of the right-to-work measure say it will bring more jobs and economic benefits to Michigan, while opponents say it will lead to lower wages. | |
John Proos, a Republican state senator who backed the bill, predicted public anger would abate because he said the new policy would bring new jobs to Michigan. | |
"As they say in sports, the atmosphere in the locker room gets a lot better when the team's winning," Mr Proos told the Associated Press. | |
In an interview with a local news outlet on Tuesday, Gov Snyder called the measure "good legislation", adding that it was designed to give workers a choice. | In an interview with a local news outlet on Tuesday, Gov Snyder called the measure "good legislation", adding that it was designed to give workers a choice. |
"This is about being pro-worker," he said. | "This is about being pro-worker," he said. |
President Barack Obama spoke out on Monday against the law during an appearance in Michigan to discuss a separate matter, his plan to avoid nationwide tax rises and deep spending cuts due to take effect next year. | President Barack Obama spoke out on Monday against the law during an appearance in Michigan to discuss a separate matter, his plan to avoid nationwide tax rises and deep spending cuts due to take effect next year. |
"These so-called right-to-work laws, they don't have anything to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics," President Obama said. | "These so-called right-to-work laws, they don't have anything to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics," President Obama said. |
"What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money." | "What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money." |
Opponents of right-to-work fear its passage in Michigan, home to the US car industry, could give the movement its biggest boost yet. | |
Although nearly half of US states have right-to-work laws, Michigan is only the second to pass such a law in the last decade, following Indiana earlier this year. | Although nearly half of US states have right-to-work laws, Michigan is only the second to pass such a law in the last decade, following Indiana earlier this year. |