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| Michigan passes 'right-to-work' legislation | Michigan passes 'right-to-work' legislation |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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. | Republicans, who control the state legislature, have succeeded in banning a requirement that workers pay union fees as a condition of employment. |
| Outside, police in riot gear used tear gas to control tensions among a crowd of more than 10,000 protesters. | |
| Passage of the measure makes Michigan the 24th "right-to-work" state. | |
| The bill will now be signed into law by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. | |
| Attracting jobs? | |
| An estimated 12,000 people turned out amid freezing temperatures to protest against the law, according to police estimates. | |
| About 10 mounted officers and more than 40 state troopers were standing in lines two-deep, and used tear gas and pepper spray on demonstrators at least once, the Detroit Free Press newspaper reported. | |
| The newspaper added that two protesters had been arrested for trying to force their way into the building where the governor's offices are located. | |
| At one point the crowd tore down a tent that had been set up by Americans for Prosperity, a group that backed the legislation. | |
| Inside the state capitol, protesters chanted "shame on you" as the first of two bills, which applied to public-sector workers, passed the chamber by a vote of 58-51. | Inside the state capitol, protesters chanted "shame on you" as the first of two bills, which applied 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. | Meanwhile, Democrats - who hold a 46-64 minority to Republicans - unsuccessfully tried to have the vote reconsidered. |
| Later, a similar measure for private-sector workers was passed in the House by a margin of 58-52, following its approval in the state senate last week. | Later, a similar measure for private-sector workers was passed in the House by a margin of 58-52, following its approval in the state senate last week. |
| 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 rapidly pushed through only last week. | Wrangles over right-to-work laws have played out over weeks in some states, but the bill passed in Lansing was rapidly pushed through only 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. |
| Are you in Michigan? Did you take part in demonstrations? | Are you in Michigan? Did you take part in demonstrations? |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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