Unions Can't Force State Workers To Pay dues, Michigan Supreme Court Rules

[Purveyor]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Michigan Supreme Court says state workers can’t be forced to pay labor unions for negotiating contracts and providing other services.

In a 4-3 decision Wednesday, the court said the Michigan Civil Service Commission lacks the authority to impose mandatory fees on thousands of civil servants.

It’s a big defeat for unions — especially the UAW — which have been collecting fees from state workers even if workers didn’t want full membership.

Michigan has had a right-to-work law since 2013. It says public and private employees don’t have to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment.

Read more: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20150729/NEWS01/150729839/unions-can-t-force-state-workers-to-pay-dues-supreme-court-rules

[lobodons]

1. Fine, Non Union workers should not enjoy Union gained benefits

Negotiate on your own. Good luck with that.

[Angry Dragon]

2. +1,027

[Starry Messenger]

3. +1000

Fuck the freeloaders.

[lindysalsagal]

18. So companies will fire union workers because the RTW workers will do more for less

Nights, weekends, no health care, no pensions, no paid sick leave.

That's what this is about: 3rd world sweatshops right here at home.

Welcome to India.

[sulphurdunn]

4. I agree. Let the right-to-work, free loading,

non-union piggy-backers negotiate their own contracts individually. Future contracts should demand they be excluded from benefits won by union members. It really is way past time to start counter punching. But, better late than never.

[MichMan]

11. Not allowed under current labor law

Unfortunately, under current labor law, non union members are not allowed to bargain for themselves even if they want to. Exclusive representation clauses mean that if there is a union, they are the only ones allowed to bargain on behalf of employees whether members or not.

On the other hand, that also means that other rival unions cannot come in and poach members either by offering lower dues or increased services.

Until it is changed by legislation, the union will continue to represent members who have opted to not pay. As far as I know, most unions have NOT been lobbying congress to make this happen.

[PatrickforO]

16. Oh oh. Well, then, those folks will just have to join then.

That is, when they find out that management is FAR FROM benign and they are being screwed every which way but loose - nickel and dimed, having benefits reduced, pensions stolen or 'flattened.' Yep. That brave new 'we don't need no stinkin' unions' world! A real worker's paradise!

[awake]

5. "Michigan has had a right-to-work law since 2013."

The court seems to have just upheld the law, the problem is not the court it is that the "Right to screw workers" law was passed in 2013

[Snotcicles]

7. Gerrymandering in Michigan is out of control. nt

[Snotcicles]

6. One step closer to third world living. nt

[Omaha Steve]

8. I wonder what pay the judges get?

Just curious.

[erronis]

10. I don't know, but its trumped by the under-the-table payments.

Nice life, eh? A few thousand in an envelope with no taxmen looking over your shoulders.

Everyone can be bought and I think the massive amount of free-spending giga-milliionaires makes sure that everyone is bought. If not they won't survive the next round of plutocracy or an inconvenient plane crash. Evil brothers.

[the_sly_pig]

9. Michigan is screwed for a generation....

I feel bad for the people in that State. Just as bad as Wisconsin.

[quizzle]

12. so they ordered lawyers to work for nothing

to represent people who will not pay those lawyers for their services. how the fuck is that possible?

[quizzle]

13. how can a court tell a company they cant collect fees?

The Supreme Court, however, says its decision isn’t based on that law. The court says the ruling is based on the Civil Service Commission’s powers as described in the constitution. wtf is that?

[Third_stone]

15. Strike

I call for a strike. We cannot allow ourselves to keep going downhill. To call this "right to work" is ridiculous, since it adds to nobody's rights, only deprives us of the right to collective bargaining.

[Pauldg47]

17. I think unions will overcome this based on how the State or corporations are treating workers...

...there is a revolution on the horizon.

[lindysalsagal]

19. Wrong. It goes to the U.S. supremes in the fall.

California teachers vs state of California. We'rescrewed.
https://www.cir-usa.org/cases/friedrichs-v-california-teachers-association-et-al/

[Pauldg47]

20. I'm going to be positive.....over time we will get there.....