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The Center for Union Facts Executive Director Richard Berman discusses whether Michigan is the new union-battleground state.
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And it is the new battleground state for organized labor unions successfully put a measure on the November ballot that could do.
Three things it out onto one.
No new laws to limit union rights not to.
Prevent Michigan from ever becoming a right to what extent -- thirty.
Give unions the ability to mount endless challenges to local governments and bad decisions about -- back.
Unions Richard -- from the center for union facts is in DC Richard.
This is going this is not just mere proposal.
A new -- this would go into the Michigan State constitution.
For.
-- right.
You're right and that the attorney general has said that this will actually affect about a 170 laws on the books right now.
And that it would give unions unprecedented power in the United States there is no state where they would have the amount of power that they presently would enjoy in Michigan if this were to pass.
It would make this proposal.
It would preempt local legislature is -- local school boards for example if they came to an agreement with unions that would preempt.
Any decision that -- made now or in the past month.
Yes you know effect they they call -- -- protect our jobs ballot initiative.
And you know when you look at that you can see that it really isn't about protecting the union's ability.
To -- the taxpayers.
And public school children out of their rights it would screw the taxpayers big time billions of dollars would be spent.
-- unions on very inefficient proposals that they have on health care.
On pensions.
And -- and quite frankly.
It would take a state that is.
Been get getting a turnaround here and bring it all the way back to where the unions where when they were bankrupting the auto companies now that's -- view of things.
I think Michigan voters may see things differently because I'm told there is 48%.
Support for this proposal on the November ballot.
Well well you know part of the reason is that when you put a proposal on the ballot it has to be a hundred words or less.
So can you imagine a law that is going to effect a 170 laws on the books and you're going to explain this to.
Voters with the less than a hundred laws.
It is a total deception people are going to wake up and be very surprised as to what's happened to their tax bills.
-- -- on the job even union employees are going to have their rights hijacked because.
They're going to be forced to give money to unions for political purposes.
Where is today when you find out through polling whether or not union members want to give their money away for political purposes.
He sees 80% of union members -- to control their own money.
This will obviate the ability of the state to protect the employee's right to hang on to their own money.
What you're talking about is what happened in in Wisconsin.
Whether state no -- collected union dues for the union union had to do it themselves essentially.
That would now be made illegal in Michigan the state would have to collect union dues and pass -- month of the union.
Right well not only that but they would have to collect the union dues for political purposes I mean there -- lots of union members who would probably say.
It's okay to collect might use if there is whose views are going to be used for collective bargaining purposes.
But not necessarily win the union is going to use literally hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
In employee -- money for politics because.
Most most people understand that union members are not all Democrats in the in the 2010.
Exit polls.
42% of union households voted Republican.
But maybe 3% of the dues money that the unions -- goes to Democrats.
And this would -- that in.
-- gun and I'm afraid we're out of time.
But this is going to be on the November ballot so come on tell us how it's doing before that November ballot because we -- Richard thank you very much -- thanks -- next we're gonna play --
