Mercury One charity hits the $1m-raised mark for Oklahoma Tornado relief

Watch Live: Second House Hearing on IRS Scandal

Business

Round 2: Mich. Gov. Signs Legislation Taking on Union Contract Agreements, Collective Bargaining

Dec. 29, 2012 3:55pm
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Goes After Entrenched Union Power … Again

Gov.-elect Rick Snyder, right, and Supreme Court justice-elect Mary Beth Kelly wave at supporters at the GOP party in Detroit on Nov. 2. Michigan has suffered from a double-digit unemployment rate since November of 2008. (Carlos Osorio /AP)

Gov. Rick Snyder put a new emergency manager law on the books in Michigan on Thursday, weeks after voters repealed a version that gave sweeping powers to a single person to overhaul financially distressed communities.

“These new laws recognize the vital importance of financially stable, economically vibrant communities to Michigan’s future,” Gov. Snyder, a Republican, said in a statement.

“They also respect the needs of citizens and taxpayers by delivering greater oversight and efficiency. Our reinvention of government is delivering meaningful reforms that will keep Michigan on the path to prosperity,” the statement adds.

The new law, passed by the Michigan Legislature, will give local governments and ailing school districts the opportunity to choose their own remedy. If a review team finds that a financial emergency exists, those communities can request an emergency manager, ask for a mediator, file for bankruptcy or introduce a reform plan with the state.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Goes After Entrenched Union Power … Again

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. (Office of the Governor of MI)

Furthermore, under the new law, emergency managers would have the power to throw out, modify, or terminate labor union agreements, according to The Detroit News. Collective bargaining could also be suspended for up to five years.

“Cities and school district governing boards could remove the emergency manager after one year by a two-thirds vote,” the report adds. “After an emergency manager leaves, local officials would be barred from altering the manager’s spending plans, labor contracts and ordinances for two years.”

Simply put, Gov. Snyder has taken another major step toward breaking organized labor’s power over the state.

“We listened to the voters and we wanted to make sure that the local communities were more empowered,” said House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Mich.) in an interview with The Detroit News.

“You can eliminate the emergency financial situation. … You can’t pretend that’s not there,” the speaker adds.

The law won’t take effect in until late March. Under the old law, the power to send an emergency manager rested solely with the governor. It was a threat to labor unions because managers had the power to throw out contracts.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Goes After Entrenched Union Power … Again

Union members from around the country rally at the Michigan State Capitol to protest a vote on Right-to-Work legislation December 11, 2012 in Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Under the new law, a manager still would have the power to change contracts. But local officials also have the option to develop an alternative plan if it saves the same amount of money as the manager’s proposals. Local governments can remove a manager after one year with a two-thirds vote of its elected officials.

The philosophy behind the law is that troubled local governments may lack the political consensus needed to get back on track or they simply need expertise to get past their financial problems.

The new law includes a $770,000 state appropriation to cover managers’ salaries, a provision that would shield it from another statewide vote because spending bills are immune to referendums.

Managers are working now in Benton Harbor, Ecorse, Flint, Pontiac and Allen Park, as well as in the Muskegon Heights, Highland Park and Detroit school districts.

And you better believe organized labor and public school officials aren’t happy with the new law.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Goes After Entrenched Union Power … Again

Thousands of union members from around the state gather at the State Capitol to protest Michigan Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed budget cuts April 13, 2011 in Lansing, Michigan. (April 12, 2011: Getty Images North America)

President of the Detroit Public School board LaMar Lemmons called Gov. Snyder’s decision “a travesty of justice.”

“The people voted to repeal it, and for the governor to sign it is a blatant contradiction of the will of the people,” Lemmons said Thursday.

“For the past four consecutive years, we’ve had some form of emergency manager and it’s not working. What we have is taxation without representation. We have an appointed dictator over the district contrary to the will of the people,” he added.

Ray Holman, a lobbyist for a UAW local that represents 17,000 state workers, gathered signatures to get a repeal of the old law on the ballot. He said the new law is “only slightly better” and predicted critics would explore a legal challenge.

“It’s the exact same law with window dressing. Ultimately, it’s a dictator’s law [emphasis added],” Holman said. “It’s disingenuous to say Gov. Snyder listened to the people. He’s flat-out wrong.”

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

The AP contributed to this report. Featured image courtesy Getty Images.

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Comments (89)

1 2
  • MrKnowItAll
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 7:50pm

    I have lived and worked in Michigan my entire life. The Many People I know personally including Family, have proved to me how you can get 25 years seniority, the pay, the Benefits and work a Total of less then 7 years. Partying their hearts out not working collecting 95% of their pay. People! Please STOP saying the Union was needed and Good at one time. It NEVER Was, and never will be. Can ANYONE accept the Truth anymore. I was better then the other guy at my Jobs. On my own I fought for what I wanted and deserved to be paid. I always received it. Stand Up and Fight for your own Pay and Treatment. Belive me if YOU really want to Work. You can and Will find a Job. No Excuses.

    Report this comment

    MrKnowItAll  
    • 1947
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 10:23pm

      The Liar at this point is Obama to the American people…..he doesn’t care about America

      Report this comment

      1947  
    • YAHSHUARULES
      Posted on December 30, 2012 at 4:08am

      That’s the reason they fight so hard – don’t want the gravy train ride to be over. What a concept that they might have to actually work for 25 years until retirement! These individuals for the most part as despicable as “welfare queens” …

      Under the Supreme Court’s 1973 Enmons decision, vandalism, assault, even murder by union officials are exempt from federal anti-extortion law. As long as the violence is aimed at obtaining property for which the union can assert a “lawful claim”–for example, wage or benefit increases– the violence is deemed to be in furtherance of “legitimate” union objectives. By the Court’s peculiar logic, such violence does not count as extortion.
      here is the link
      http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/freedom-union-violence

      workers of the world unite!

      Do you know who the Fabians (with logo of wolf in sheep’s clothing), SDS, Frankfurt School and Willi Munzenberg, John Dewey , Antonio Gramsci, Mattechine Society, Alinksi (who dedicated his book “Rules for Radicals to Lucifer), which Obama taught in Chicago for years, Committees of Correspondence are? Connect all the dots that allowed Obama to waltz into the White House…

      All part of the Agenda to create an America so corrupt it stinks and to drive this culture in a direction designed to destroy it.
      Everyone who loves America needs to see this movie, Watch it. Share it with church, groups, clubs, family, etc
      It is free on line for the moment

      https://vim

      Report this comment

      YAHSHUARULES  
    • YAHSHUARULES
      Posted on December 30, 2012 at 4:10am

      I hate when that stupid counter messes up! LINK
      Do you know who theFabians (with logo of wolf in sheep’s clothing), SDS, Frankfurt School and Willi Munzenberg, John Dewey , Antonio Gramsci, Mattechine Society, Alinksi (who dedicated his book “Rules for Radicals to Lucifer), which Obama taught in Chicago for years, Committees of Correspondence are? Connect all the dots that allowed Obama to waltz into the White House…

      All part of the Agenda to create an America so corrupt it stinks and to drive this culture in a direction designed to destroy it. If you don’t know all this you need to find out! I have watched it 12X to absorb all that is in it!

      This is the most comprehensive, best movie I have seen pulling all this together. Watch it. Share it. Arrange a showing in church, groups, clubs, with friends or family. Everyone who loves America needs to see this movie,
      It is free on line for the moment

      https://vimeo.com/52009124
      If America goes down, the free world will go down with it and it will be finished for a very, very long time…

      Report this comment

      YAHSHUARULES  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on December 30, 2012 at 8:43am

      The only reason this is a big thing is due to the political funds funneled to the Democratic Party from these unions. Also this will surely cut into union bosses huge salaries and they are upset this will cut into the lavish live style they have grown accustomed to. Michigan is on it’s way back to solvency with these rules and time will show this.

      Report this comment

      Cemoto78  
    • daniel3839
      Posted on December 30, 2012 at 8:44am

      Your exactly right buddy.

      Report this comment

      daniel3839  
    • Smith5663
      Posted on December 30, 2012 at 11:06am

      believe I have a solution in case of UAW.

      Buy American cars, not UAW made cars.

      UAW is a political arm or the Democratic party, they own a major share of GM and Chrysler. Stop supporting them.

      Buy other, non-UAW made American cars.

      Report this comment

      Smith5663  
    • An_American_Thinker
      Posted on December 30, 2012 at 1:08pm

      Union bosses are no different than mobster Dons-their capos holding businesses hostage with threats of strike unless they get they want, lining their pockets with unwitting memberhip dues, and spending membership pension money on political campaigns that bolster their existence.

      Report this comment

      An_American_Thinker  
    • 48Straights
      Posted on December 30, 2012 at 3:02pm

      Is there such a thing as a non UAW car made in America?

      Report this comment

      48Straights  
  • ALL4FREEDOM
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 7:11pm

    Support national right to work legislation. Unions have outlived their usefulness and today represent nothing less than legalized extortion. They have been thoroughly corrupted by power and no longer work for the benefit of their members. Today, the only thing unions bring to the bargaining table is a guarantee of higher costs.

    Report this comment

    ALL4FREEDOM  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 6:38pm

    Wa state retirement sys is undergoing a change with absolutely no fuss that I know of…Of course this is under the liberal leadership.

    Report this comment

    SamIamTwo  
  • ARIZONA VETERAN
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:56pm

    i am wondering just how much money $$$$$$$$$ does ole Ray Holman, the lobbyist for a UAW local MAKE???

    Report this comment

    ARIZONA VETERAN  
  • chips1
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:55pm

    1. Get a helmet
    2. Put on the damn helmet

    Report this comment

    chips1  
  • red_white_blue2
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:54pm

    What’s the matter Union Bosses? Might you loose some control, and power? Might the people you control be empowered to over ride you? Awww!! Poor Babies–Here’s a Bottle–go to sleep! Preferably Permanently would be great. You could care less about the will of the people as you say in your rhetoric sound bites. You just want to save your asses! To Bad!

    Report this comment

    red_white_blue2  
  • FastJimmy3
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:51pm

    While it may not seem fair that union members, now have to give up perks negotiated in good times, that is the reality the country is faced with. Instead of whining at the thought of paying more,think of the majority of people in the United States, who have felt the pain for the last five years. So suck it ip, put on a big smile and get back in the game…And Governor Snyder, thanks for balancing the budget, giving us a surplus, and putting us on the right path. I know unwinding the mess of eight years of a Democratic Governor(Jenny “blow you” Granholm) was a very daunting task. Thank you!

    Report this comment

    FastJimmy3  
  • Displacedsoutherner
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:51pm

    I heard someone quote a former head of the national teachers’ union (NEA) the other day: “when they start paying dues I’ll worry about what’s good for the pupils.”

    Report this comment

    Displacedsoutherner  
    • jhrusky
      Posted on December 30, 2012 at 1:01pm

      From Wikipedia (FWIW)

      The quote,

      “When schoolchildren start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.”[16]

      is often attributed to Shanker.

      The Albert Shanker Institute attempted to find the source of this quote, and concluded that “we cannot demonstrate conclusively that Albert Shanker never made this particular statement… but, we believe the quote is fiction.” The first appearance, which those at the Institute could find, was in the Meridian (Mississippi) Star newspaper, August 13, 1985, but no source is included in the article.[17]

      Report this comment

      jhrusky  
  • bikerdogred1
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:50pm

    All union members who don’t like it in Michigan,should pack up and move to California,they would be in all their glory out there,everything cost much more and unions everywhere,its a free country pack up and leave today and be happy.

    Report this comment

    bikerdogred1  
    • TurboCat
      Posted on December 30, 2012 at 2:56am

      No. There’s enough of that here in CA. Send them to North Korea for an attitude adjustment!

      Report this comment

      TurboCat  
  • DeathRattle
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:41pm

    So nationally the left is out there screaming and crying about the Congress not giving Obama everything he wants because after all they say Obama won so he should get to do what he wants. Yet here another duly elected official (Governor Snyder) also won his election, but he can’t have what he wants because it’s not what we want cries the left.

    Never before have I witnessed a more outrageous group of lying backstabbing, two-faced, sycophantic, hypocritical losers. The left is made up of people with absolutely zero moral compass input. Government is god to these people, and it is a shame to see so many willing to give up their God given freedoms in order to get something for free. It’s funny I do not believe the republican party will come out looking much better than the left does now after it “finds its new face”. I am now, and I suppose should have always been, Christian first and Republican second, but even the republican party I knew is gone.

    Well God will have the final say, He has been made plain to all of us and there is a choice, you are either FOR Him or Against Him. I trust in the Bible, and as a child I could not imagine this great country collapsing, but now I am simply amazed at how fast it is happening. God bless you all, even those I disagree with.

    Report this comment

    DeathRattle  
    • GoodCook
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:51pm

      You left out that they are thugs. Comprimise to them is do it their way or they’ll bust your knee caps

      Report this comment

      GoodCook  
    • romsquiz
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 6:52pm

      Isn’t losing your legal rights to a centralized body a dictatorship? That’s what is wrong here ….losing rights to capitalist dogma. Go back to Victorian times and take your “God” given rights with you, sheeez what a bunch of delusion retards.

      Report this comment

      romsquiz  
  • SocialistSlayer
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:25pm

    Unions are nothing but today’s Mafia !

    Report this comment

    SocialistSlayer  
  • katie5
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:21pm

    May God continue to bless and protect Gov. Snyder.

    Report this comment

    katie5  
  • Chromo200
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:17pm

    When will be that Michigan will split into two states ..

    Report this comment

    Chromo200  
  • Caballosinnombre
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:49pm

    The useful idiots of the socialist party do not know what real patriotism is all about. They are clueless of what this country is founded upon and are blinded by their hatred of anything that makes common sense.

    Report this comment

    Caballosinnombre  
    • Thomas
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:11pm

      Wonder why these unions and these union members can’t deal with a right to work? There is a reason why they don’t like freedom. What’s wrong with having a right to choose whether to be in a union or not. If the Unions are really that great a thing then I am sure people would choose them with their own freewill but if not maybe that is a sign the Unions better straighten up or go home. I want to start a Union Union because they are a business and I want to control their business and make sure the Unions are running a good business since they can’t seem to trust anyone else why should they be trusted? It is the cheater that always thinks and claims everyone else is cheating.

      Report this comment

      Thomas  
  • kapnkd
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:39pm

    Such a rotten sour bunch these union people are!! …Those union members look like they’ve been sucking on lemons!! BOTH ends are now puckered up tight on them!

    Report this comment

    kapnkd  
  • Dkoonz
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:36pm

    Lets see if president O steps in and helps the unions out. I think the unions are going to find out that president O don’t need union support anymore and will let them go down in a blaze.

    Report this comment

    Dkoonz  
  • mrunner
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:34pm

    It is snowing and cold here in Michigan right now. Maybe all those union guys should bundle up and go to Lansing and hold a protest. Three days ought to do it! March around in the snow on a Sunday and a couple of holidays. Hey! We would see your true conviction! LMAO. Nope. Unlike the Tea Party, who took vacation days and their weekends to gather- the unions will not do it unless they are paid… I am starting to see a glimer of hope for this state!

    Report this comment

    mrunner  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:44pm

      I would love to see that .. of course they would think they could “occupy” the Capital .. that didn’t work the last time ;-) I hope if they try Mother Nature gives them a nice blizzard ;-)

      Report this comment

      CatB  
    • stopprintn
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:46pm

      If they go back down to Lansing to protest again, we better take up a collection for Stephen Crowder so he can get, knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet.

      Report this comment

      stopprintn  
    • mrunner
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:57pm

      @catb – No chance of them occupying the capital building. Unlike our federal government, the state reps actually got their job done before the holidays, addressed some tough issue head on and then went home for the holidays. ;)

      Report this comment

      mrunner  
    • KangarooJack
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 7:39pm

      No protests to be seen. They are enjoying probably knocking off of work early on Friday and not returning til THURSDAY. They’ll take a sick day on Wednesday to sober up.

      Report this comment

      KangarooJack  
  • stopprintn
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:32pm

    If this country is to survive, all public unions must come to an end. Most all of our far left political class are put in office by them. They quite literaly gave us Obama2 (Shadow Bosses). The Michigan congress is a direct result of the Tea Partys 2010 push for a more conservative government, and it has been frutful.

    Report this comment

    stopprintn  
  • bobinmichigan
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:29pm

    It is sad to see the state I live in be put into financial hardship due to the unions and other special interest groups. Many of the cities that are facing bankruptcy have a long history of progressive democratic leadership – spend liberally and govern as if it doesn’t matter. Hope these moves by the governor help get us back on a sound financial track.

    Report this comment

    bobinmichigan  
    • SCREW-WINDOWS
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:49pm

      Bout time union members were put on the same level as the common man. No protection by contracts or tenure do your job or get fired. Now if we could get that in Congress.

      Report this comment

      SCREW-WINDOWS  
  • Akridgerunner
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:29pm

    Michigan stands no chance of revival unless the unions are broken to some degree, no chance. Let’s hope this works.

    Report this comment

    Akridgerunner  
  • nosharia
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:17pm

    Unions are big businesses with huge profits. Those profits get poured into Democrat candidates, no matter what the political affiliation of the dues paying members. When a business is a blatant failure it needs to fold.

    Report this comment

    nosharia  
  • Al J Zira
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:16pm

    A sign of things to come.

    Report this comment

    Al J Zira  
  • Seymour
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:16pm

    Well done Snyder….

    Hey Lemmons and Holman, I keep hearing that elections have consequences, can you confirm this then suck it up? Thanks in advance.

    PS: I would begin taking an elementary school refresher course then work your way up like the rest of us in the private sector. Otherwise IMO you both will be generating less than $30,000 collectively in annual remunerations within 5 years, outside.

    Report this comment

    Seymour  
  • gyro
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:16pm

    quote
    President of the Detroit Public School board LaMar Lemmons called Gov. Snyder’s decision “a travesty of justice
    =====
    Well it is a travesty that local goverments everywere have no control over thier tax money
    hope this works

    Report this comment

    gyro  
    • kapnkd
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:36pm

      Lemmons is just upset the school board can no longer take their lavish life style convention breaks at luxurious hotels at the cost of taxpayers and cut backs to educational programs. I won’t even go into the graft and corruption going on within the Detroit political and school board arena.

      They are upset their way of greed and corruption is soon coming to an end – GO GET ‘EM SNYDER!!!

      Report this comment

      kapnkd  
  • CatB
    Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:05pm

    LOL .. the union thugs are going to have a meltdown .. seriously I LOVE this Governor .. after years of Democrat Jenny Granholm it is SO nice seeing someone standing up to the thuggery that has ruined Michigan. I was “blown away” (moved out of the state) in Granholm’s first term .. but I have friends still stuck there and I am dismayed whenever I visit at the poverty that is spreading throughout the state .. hopefully he is going to continue and take the state upward into the future.

    Report this comment

    CatB  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:12pm

      Let the unions rant and rage, Obama will do what he will for them and in the end dump them as he does all others when they are no longer needed.

      Its past time to break the unions once and for all.

      So which will the unions use for their usual thugee tactics:

      The Courts
      Rioting and Civil Chaos
      Occupy Wall Street
      Refusal to bathe for weeks on end?

      Report this comment

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • gyro
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:18pm

      wait wait Snowleopard
      We all have the right to smell from not bathing

      Report this comment

      gyro  
    • OlefromMN
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:27pm

      We have DEFCON (defense readiness condition) for the threat of nuclear war. What should we call the threat of union meltdown and riot? They are sure to lose it soon and I will have a bowl full of popcorn and a beverage at the ready to watch it all unfold on TV.

      Report this comment

      OlefromMN  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:37pm

      @OLEFROMMN

      If my High School reunion group can get their act together .. and pick a weekend for a reunion .. I may have a front row seat .. if it isn’t until spring/summer… of course either way it is going to be “interesting” .. we have UAW and Teachers union members .. and a member of the Michigan Senate (who is a Republican and very conservative like Snyder .. a business owner also) who are members of our class.

      We should not have to “pay” for a fireworks display ;-)

      Report this comment

      CatB  
    • gyro
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:45pm

      CatB we will need a video

      Report this comment

      gyro  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 4:56pm

      @GYRO

      Will do!

      Report this comment

      CatB  
    • OlefromMN
      Posted on December 29, 2012 at 5:14pm

      I may have an acronym. DUMAS, Destructive Union Meltdown Assured Situation.

      Report this comment

      OlefromMN  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love