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Mackinac Center for Public Policy Director of Labor Policy Vincent Vernuccio on efforts to make Michigan the next right-to-work state and what it mean...
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First it could be a day of reckoning for union heavyweights in the big labor state of Michigan lawmakers they are considering changing its status to.
Our right to work state giving workers the freedom to opt out of paying union dues for more.
That's -- for -- GO labor policy director for the Mac and -- center for public policy.
Tell me first of all -- -- what it is you're trying to do with this legislation.
Outlook there are rumors that Michigan could become the 24 right to work state and nation when -- what does is simply gives workers the ability to choose.
Whether or not to pay union and keep their jobs -- right to work protections unions can actually get a worker fired if that worker chooses not pay them.
Now for when I understand there's some.
Five buses closing in on the capital they -- tonight.
With union members from all over the place to protest what -- trying to do what do you make of that.
That's right there was a call to the senate action which means all the senators have to be in the senate right now that Democrats are causing this the Republicans to -- -- tax and fiscal belt right now.
And the unions have brought in five bus loads of protesters.
To protest that they think may be a imminent right to work bill introduced in Michigan's capital -- Lansing.
-- let's get done that.
What we always talk about on that they show and that's the money.
What difference would -- a right to work state make for the people of Michigan how would be different this is a state that's been struggling for some time now.
That it has I mean it's.
-- some of the worst in the nation and down but just looking at the statistics between the right to work states in the forced unionism whatnot right work states.
Right to work states have bigger population growth they have bigger wage growth if you lot count cost of you if you count the cost of living.
How workers are making more and right to work states they are more attractive to business CNBC just -- -- -- top states for business when he twelve.
And ten at 99 that in the top ten states were right to work cell while right -- what really helps the economy out by the.
Here's something surprising here that I think a lot of people maybe they didn't pick up behind it -- you know we have -- comparison right to work states vs -- right to work states that we judge show.
Wage increases far higher.
-- in the non right to work states.
It's forced unionism wages are only going up 3% right to work you say 12% how is that possible.
Well what rights what does this it's this is a big open for business sign to attract job creators to this day.
-- it Don says that the stated that the lawmakers in the state are putting workers and job creators above the special interest and they know that if they go to that state that on the -- won't have to -- That the that the politicians will be putting else.
Anyone else ahead of their jobs.
And for that reason job growth shrinking in those union states.
Expanding in the right to work states I guess the clearest example of that it really does involve Michigan and it's what happened with Detroit auto workers their jobs shrinking.
And they are definitely on the decline -- auto workers in the south where mostly foreign competitors brain and that's and that's who you -- in the plants down there.
They're doing very very well that to me is it clear case study.
Of the power of the right to work states.
-- people who employ people but for the workers.
Now that's what I mean the auto industry is actually the American auto industry is actually come back but it's coming back in those -- work states where they don't have the very stringent UAW work rules.
And auto workers are hiring and actually out auto workers -- -- southern right to work states especially new auto workers.
Are making more than the UAW workers in Michigan in states like Michigan and the forced unionism states.
Especially those second tier lower paid auto workers that had a comment -- possibly this contract compromised.
Yeah I know this is very controversy -- and union members in particular pushing back against you say hey look.
It should be our freedom to organize if we want to why should we be able to do this how do you respond to them.
Let's say they still have the freedom to organize -- toward does not do anything to collective bargaining.
Except for taking away unions' ability to get a worker fired.
-- network refusing to pay them they can still bargain over wages they can still bargain over hours they can still bargain over working conditions.
In fact right to work doesn't -- unions it actually makes union stronger because now the unions.
Have to be accountable to their members and a can't take them for granted I'm sure the unions don't agree with you about boy howdy do we need some control and -- that kind of level playing field for workers.
Vincent thanks for coming on if you get some kind of movement on that -- tonight please let us know we'd love to reported in this hour thank freak thank you for coming on showing us these numbers just amazing thank you.
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