By this point in life, you've learned not to judge a book by its cover; that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, and that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
All those cliches fit the so-called Right to Work ballot initiative that Republicans are expected to begin circulating at polling places on the day of Michigan's presidential primary, Tuesday, January 15, 2008.
The ballot initiative really should be called the "Right to Work for Less" proposal. It does not guarantee anyone a job, despite its alluring title. Instead, it threatens the standard of living of Michigan workers by undercutting unions, depriving them of the support of workers by requiring them to represent everybody in the bargaining unit regardless of whether they pay dues.
Once you get behind the title, though, the ballot proposal doesn't sound quite so good. According to Michigan Liberal:
"Workers in Right to Work states earn on average $6,590 less than workers in free-bargaining states. That’s the equivalent to a 17% pay cut! On average, Right to Work states have a 16% higher poverty rate and job fatality rates are also 54% higher. The average employee in a free bargaining state is 24.1% more likely to have health insurance than a worker in a Right-to-Work state. These statistics are staggering and we cannot afford to be fooled by a false slogan that is being forced on us by outside special interests. The University of Michigan Institute for Labor and Industrial Relations calls Right to Work 'a veiled assault on wage-earners.'"
Does that sound good for Michigan?
The Michigan Democratic Party plans to have volunteers at every polling site warning voters against signing the petition.
People who would like to volunteer to work at a polling site are asked to email Luke Canfora (lcanfora@miaflcio.org) at the Michigan State AFL-CIO. Volunteers will be assigned to a polling site and given training and literature.
1 comment:
Don't Be fooled by Inept Democratic Party Leadership.
Drolet is behind yet another petition drive, this time to make Michigan a Right to Work state. Why didn't the Democrats take Drolet out when they had the chance last November? I'm in a unique position to provide the answer to that question, because I was his Democrat opponent last November.
I campaigned against the three term State Representative for two years and lost to him by 167 votes. I was able to garner wide spread and generous support from labor. I did rise over $20,000. That’s not much for a county commission race in Macomb County, especially to wage a race against an entrenched incumbent in an area that leans Republican. Because the two year campaign was costly, I could afford to have literature printed but could not afford the postage required to mail it. My family and supporters hand delivered over 30,000 pieces during that campaign. I walked and knocked the district once in 2005 and again in 2006.
You would think that a long time Democratic Party leader and supporter like me would have garnered the support of her own county party. Not so. The Chairman of the Macomb Democratic Party, Ed Bruley, disregarded his memberships’ wishes to support my campaign. As a Democratic candidate vying for an open seat I was eligible for $5000 from the county party. I received $500. That was a mere one tenth of what party newcomers received. In addition, Mr. Bruley took it upon himself to discourage large donors from making contributions to my campaign, namely, Public Works Commissioner Anthony Marrocco and County Treasurer Ted Wahby. Another $7000 to $10,000 could have gone a long way to turn out 167 more voters or change 167 minds.
As a result of Mr. Bruley’s failure, Mr. Drolet continues to collect a government paycheck and exploit the ability an elected official has to garner media attention.
Alisa Diez
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