Michigan State Democrats and Gov. Gretchen “Big Gretch” Whitmer have looked the scabs, fat cats, leeches, rats, and anti-union, anti-worker scum in the eye and said, “no more.” Michigan, home to so many important moments in union history, has become the first state since 1958 to repeal so-called “right-to-work,” thanks to union members organizing to elect labor-friendly politicians all across the state. Additionally, Michigan will reimplement prevailing wage requirements for government funded projects.

“Reinstating prevailing wage for state construction projects puts working people first and helps us build high-quality, cost-effective infrastructure with the right mix and materials,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Good-paying jobs are the foundation of a strong middle class and state construction contracts must not be the exception.”

“Today, we are showing the world that Michigan is not only where we make things and build things, it’s where the people who do so are respected,” said State Senator Darrin Camilleri, who also said that Michigan was determined to “(restore) the union promise.”

According to a recent poll, 75% of Michigan voters want to expand workers’ rights laws, with landslide support for a number of other pro-worker policies. According to the Michigan AFL-CIO, “58% of likely 2024 voters are supportive of laws that guarantee employees at unionized workplaces equally contribute to the costs of union representation.” In Michigan, 15% of workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements.

“Michigan voters want to make Michigan a workers’ rights state,” said
Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber. They support these laws that will give workers the right to bargain for their own safety and provide Michigan workers the freedom to collectively bargain with their employers without the government getting in the way.”