Tagged: Michigan right to work

Gov. Rick Snyder called for "a chance to move forward" Thursday as union officials held a series of protests in Metro Detroit and Lansing as the traditional labor stronghold became the nation's 24th right-to-work state. Republicans and conservative supporters said giving employees the legal right not to pay dues to unions for collectively bargained wages and benefits would strengthen unions and benefit workers.

One of the most hard-fought changes in Michigan history -- right-to-work legislation -- takes effect today, but its effects are largely unknown and not expected to be immediate. In neighboring Indiana, the impact is only beginning to be felt one year after a similar law took effect, in March 2012.

A Detroit-area man plans to launch a petition drive to amend Michigan's constitution, aiming to close a loophole that allows laws - such as right to work - to be immune from a repeal by voters. Currently under the constitution, laws that include any legislative appropriations can't be subjected to a ballot referendum.

LANSING -- A poll released to the Free Press on Tuesday suggests that support for Gov. Rick Snyder dropped sharply after he changed course in December and backed the speedy passage of controversial right-to-work legislation. The poll by EPIC-MRA of Lansing, released exclusively to the Free Press and WXYZ-TV (Channel 7), found 61% of Michigan voters surveyed between Feb.