Michigan's fight for the right to work

For conservatives nationwide, this is a battle worth joining

Pro-union protesters gather in 2011 to protest Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's budget cuts.
(Image credit: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Following in the footsteps of more than 20 states across America, Michigan's Republican-controlled legislature has moved to protect the "right to work" in The Wolverine State. "Right to work" (RTW) laws restrict the ability of unions to collect involuntary fees from employees as a condition of work. Unions argue that RTW laws trample worker rights at the altar of big business, but this narrative is simply untrue. The reality is that RTW states are fairer and freer. Employment decisions should be made on the basis of a candidate's character and skills, and not on someone being forced into entering a protection racket. Michigan residents — and people of all states — should be able to get jobs without having to fork over money to a union that has seized control of a given industry.

The RTW effort in Michigan was unexpected. Until now, conventional wisdom has held that the state was an untouchable union stronghold, dominated as it's been for decades by the U.S. auto industry. But as The Detroit Free Press' Tom Walsh has pointed out, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder now appears to have lost patience with union obstructionism.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us

Tom Rogan is a conservative writer who blogs at TomRoganThinks.com.