Following
last week’s action, it seemed inevitable – even in the face of an estimated
12,500 protestors in downtown Lansing – and in the end, it was. After the
significant failure of Proposal 12-2 to enshrine the right to collective
bargaining in the state’s Constitution, the Legislature acted and Michigan will
become the country’s 24th “Right to Work” state.
Senate
Bill 116, now Public Act 348 of 2012, prohibits union membership and fee/dues
payment as a condition of employment in the private sector while House
Bill 4003, now PA 349, does the same for public workers. The Governor
signed the two bills less than an hour after their final passage. Since
immediate effect was not achieved on the measures, both will go into effect 90
days after the Legislature adjourns sine die, likely at the end of March.
As expected, the
measures exempt police officers and fire workers and contain an appropriation
to the Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to implement the
new statute, thereby making the law referendum-proof upon enactment.
Over
10 thousand protesters converged on Lansing as the legislature moved the
measure to the Governor. With hundreds of State Police Troopers in full riot
gear, relative calm was maintained given the magnitude of the crowd. Only three
arrests were made, all near the Romney Building when protestors reportedly
attempted to enter the building.
One
of the more publicized incidents occurred when Lansing icon Clint Tarver,
everyone’s favorite hot dog guy found vending on the corner of Capitol and
Michigan nearly daily, reportedly had some of his catering equipment damaged
when a tent collapsed on the Capitol lawn. In the following days, the Capitol
community, and observers from around the nation, raised thousands of dollars
for Clint to repair the damages.