Protesters to march on Michigan capitol over ‘right-to-work’ vote

As many as 10,000 labour union workers from throughout Michigan and the US Midwest are expected to march on the Michigan Capitol building in freezing temperatures on Tuesday to protest likely passage of a “right-to-work” law.

The Republican-controlled Michigan House of Representatives will consider two and perhaps three bills on Tuesday that would prohibit unions from compelling private sector workers and government employees to pay union dues.

The right-to-work movement has been growing in the country since Wisconsin fought a similar battle with unions over two years ago.

Michigan would become the 24th state to enact right-to-work provisions and passage of the legislation would deal a stunning blow to the power of organised labour in the United States.

Michigan is home of the heavily unionised US auto industry, with some 700 manufacturing plants in the state. It is also the birthplace of the United Auto Workers, the richest US labour union.

While the new laws are not expected to have much immediate impact because existing union contracts would be preserved, they could, over time, further weaken the UAW, which has already seen its influence wane in negotiating with the major automakers.

Right-to-work laws typically allow workers to hold a job without being forced to join a union or pay union dues.