Thursday, November 06, 2014

In Great Lakes States, Union Retribution Fizzles

In Great Lakes States, Union Retribution Fizzles [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
In December of 2012, in the aftermath of Michigan’s Republican Legislature passing a right-to-work law, thousands of union members from around the state participated in a teleconference where their leaders promised “retribution” against the GOP.
One union member wondered if Democrats took control of the Legislature, “Could we shove it right down their throats?”
Al Garrett, president of Michigan AFSCME Council 25, shot back: “If we were to change the composition of both houses, where we were the majority and had the governor, no question we would be able to get rid of it right away. … In November of 2014, we vote to change the composition of those bodies. … We will not forget the folks who did this to us.”
Garrett said the union would “make sure we identify the folks who did us in and get them out of office.”
In Michigan, the day after the November 2014 elections, those threats ring hollow.
....Similar scenarios played out in Wisconsin and Ohio, where GOP governors won elections after making major labor reforms that upset unions in those states.
...In Ohio, led by GOP Gov. John Kasich, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5, which also limited public sector union collective bargaining privileges. Unions scored a victory in 2012 when the law was overturned in a referendum.
...But on Tuesday, Walker, Kasich and Snyder all won re-election after challenging the power of their states’ union establishments.

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