Dec 12, 3:10 AM EST
Mich. becomes right-to-work state despite protests
By JOHN FLESHER and JEFF KAROUB
Associated Press
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"Passing these bills is an act of war on Michigan's middle class, and I hope the governor and the Republican legislators are ready for the fight that is about to ensue," said Gretchen Whitmer, the Senate Democratic leader.
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As 1 of 24 states with right-to-work laws, Michigan will prohibit requiring nonunion employees to pay unions for negotiating contracts, representing them in grievances and other services. Supporters say the laws give workers freedom of association and promote job creation, while critics insist the real intent is to drain unions of funds need to bargain effectively.
Labor has suffered a series of setbacks in Rust Belt states since the 2010 election propelled tea party conservatives to power across much of the region. Even so, the ruthless efficiency with which Republicans prevailed on right-to-work was breathtaking in Michigan, birthplace of the United Auto Workers, where unions have long been political titans.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RIGHT_TO_WORK_MICHIGAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-12-03-10-17The plutocrats win again because the public is both (a) desperate for jobs, thanks to the plutocrats; and (b) uninformed about unions, collective bargaining fees, etc., also thanks to the plutocrats.
It's an economic war, complete with wartime propaganda machines, but only one side is really fighting it, that being the greedy, anti-worker side. The same side that has always fought the economic wars.