Michigan Dems To Seek Constitutional Amendment To Ensure Union Rights

[Purveyor]

LANSING -- House and Senate Democratic leaders today will call for a state constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to collective bargaining for all employees, either in the public or private sectors.

Senate Majority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, said the proposal is modeled after similar constitutional guarantees for collective bargaining in other states.

The proposal will be announced shortly at a union-led rally at the Capitol, where demonstrators are protesting Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget and tax plan.

The rally, like previous ones, also is targeting a new law – soon to be signed by Snyder – that will give state-appointed emergency financial managers such sweeping powers as the ability to nullify city and school district employee union contracts.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20110316/NEWS15/110316020/1068/OPINION/Michigan-Dems-seek-constitutional-amendment-ensure-union-rights?odyssey=nav|head

[suston96]

1. The right to acquire wealth is a natural right.....

The right to work is the right to acquire wealth. Wealth does not necessarily mean riches but rather property and money and whatever is necessary to secure (protect) our lives and property.

No person can be denied the right to be paid fairly and reasonably for work performed.

Therefore, I fully support the natural and civil rights of the people to be guaranteed a process of negotiation or bargaining for fair wages for fair work performed.

[SlimJimmy]

2. Would you also be in favor of giving public sector workers the right to strike?

I ask, because currently, federal (public sector) workers do not have that right.

[suston96]

3. Right to strike for federal workers?

Yes. Striking against unfair labor practices especially when instigated by partisan politics should be a right for all workers.

[SlimJimmy]

4. So, if for instance all the postal workers went on strike, that would be okay with you?

Personally, I think striking by public sector employees should be off the table. Collective bargaining for wages and benefits, no problem.

[suston96]

5. I was a US postal worker regular for 3 years and never joined the union.....

Postal workers are really not "government workers". But anyhow, I see no reason for them not to strike. Oh, yes I do. People will start using other services even more than they do now.

Better think of another "federal" worker group. How about Air Traffic Controllers?

[SlimJimmy]

6. I was very much around when Reagan fired the ATCs. So the point is not

lost on me. I still believe that the right to strike should not be allowed for public sector workers (especially federal workers). But that's one of the great things about America; we can all have our own opinions. :D

[tallahasseedem]

7. Yet many don't know this...

because of the wall-to-wall coverage of Japan. I haven't seen ONE thing concerning this on MSNBC tonight.

This is ridiculous.