Michigan Labor Mobilizes, Prevents Anti-Union Petition Drive

Brent Gillette is the state director for Michigan Labor 2008. He reports here on the Michigan State AFL-CIO’s campaign to fight an anti-union “right to work” for less petition drive in the state. 

While thousands voted in the Michigan presidential primaries yesterday, more than 3,500 union members and allies monitored polling places statewide for a potential “right to work” for less petition drive on the day of the primary. More than two dozen international unions participated in the statewide mobilization, taking shifts morning, noon and night at 2,000 polling locations across the state.

These volunteers moved several hundred thousand informational leaflets to voters. With the unprecedented mobilization of the Michigan union movement, the “right to work” out-of-state special interests didn’t even show up today. This allowed the thousands of volunteers who participated to spend the day handing out information in support of our Michigan health care ballot initiative.  

Mark Gaffney, president of the Michigan State AFL-CIO, said yesterday’s effort was just one part of the process of protecting working families in the state.

The labor community, along with other allies of Michigan’s working families, is sending a very powerful message to special interests that “Right to Work” isn’t going to happen in Michigan. Although the “Right to Work” forces are gone for now, we intend to continue educating people on the importance of strong middle-class jobs. We’re not going to bring the economy back by cutting wages.

The “right to work” for less ballot initiative would hurt Michigan. The so-called “right to work” states have higher rates of infant mortality, a lower percentage of residents with health care and more dangerous worksites—and middle-class workers earn much less. Steelworker Ed Leary said he was proud to play a part in protecting workers around the state. 

I volunteered today because “Right to Work” would be a disaster in Michigan. I was really inspired by the fact that thousands of us fanned out across the state. The power of the labor movement is strength in numbers. We won’t allow any special interest group to attack the economy of our state.

The Michigan labor movement will continue to build on the mobilization. Union members and allies will not slow down, give up or rest on their success—and will continue to organize and oppose any threat of the possibility of “right to work” laws.  

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