LANSING – The Michigan AFL-CIO has endorsed the following candidates in races for the Michigan House of Representatives, Michigan Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Senate. The endorsements were voted on by the Michigan AFL-CIO’s Executive Council.
“Now more than ever, our state needs leaders who will wake up every day fighting to make our economy work for everyone,” said Ron Bieber, President of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “That’s why we’re proud to support these candidates for public office in 2018. Each one of them has demonstrated a strong commitment to fighting for good jobs, strong wages, and a quality education for every student in Michigan. That’s why the Michigan AFL-CIO and our affiliates are ready to knock on doors, make phone calls, and mobilize our members across the state to win these important races in November.”
Endorsed Candidate for U.S. Senate:
Debbie Stabenow
Endorsed Candidates for U.S. House of Representatives:
Matt Morgan (District 1), Robert Davidson (District 2), Jerry Hilliard (District 4), Dan Kildee (District 5), Gretchen Driskell (District 7), Elissa Slotkin (District 8), Andy Levin (District 9), Frank Accavitti (District 10), Tim Greimel (District 11), Debbie Dingell (District 12), Brenda Jones (District 13), Brenda Lawrence (District 14)
Endorsed Candidates for Michigan State Senate:
Stephanie Chang (District 1), Adam Hollier (District 2), Sylvia Santana (District 3), David Knezek (District 5), Erika Geiss (District 6), Dayna Polehanki (District 7), Henry Yanez (District 10), Jeremy Moss (District 11), Rosemary Bayer (District 12), Mallory McMorrow (District 13), Bill LaVoy (District 17), Jeff Irwin (District 18), Sean McCann (District 20), Adam Dreher (District 22), Curtis Hertel, Jr. (District 23), Jim Ananich (District 27), Winnie Brinks (District 29), Phil Phelps (District 32), Scott Dianda (District 38)
Endorsed Candidates for Michigan House of Representatives:
Tenisha Yancey (District 1), Wendell Byrd (District 3), Mark Payne (District 5), LaTanya Garrett (District 7), Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (District 8), Karen Whitsett (District 9), Leslie Love (District 10), Jewell Jones (District 11), Alex Garza (District 12), Frank Liberati (District 13), Cara Clemente (District 14), Abdullah Hammoud (District 15), Bill Johnson (District 16), Michelle LaVoy (District 17), Kevin Hertel (District 18), Dan Centers (District 19), Matt Koleszar (District 20), Kristy Pagan (District 21), John G. Chirkun (District 22), Darrin Camilleri (District 23), Nate Shannon (District 25), Jim Ellison (District 26), Robert Whittenberg (District 27), Patrick Green (District 28), Wisam Naoum (District 30), Bill Sowerby (District 31), Sheldon Neeley (District 34), Vincent Gregory (District 35), Chris Greig (District 37), Kelly Breen (District 38), Jenny Suidan (District 39), Mari Manoogian (District 40), Padma Kuppa (District 41), Mona Shand (District 42), Laura Dodd (District 44), Kyle Cooper (District 45), Mindy Denninger (District 46), Colleen Turk (District 47), Sheryl Kennedy (District 48), John Cherry (District 49), Tim Sneller (District 50), David Lossing (District 51), Donna Lasinski (District 52), Yousef Rahbi (District 53), Ronnie Peterson (District 54), Rebekah Warren (District 55), Jon Hoadley (District 60), Jim Haadsma (District 62), Jennifer Aniano (District 63), Sheila Troxel (District 64), Terri McKinnon (District 65), Dan Seibert (District 66), Kara Hope (District 67), Sarah Anthony (District 68), Angela Witwer (District 71), David LaGrand (District 75), Rachel Hood (District 76), Eric Sabin (District 85), Andy O’Riley (District 91), Terry Sabo (District 92), Dave Adams (District 94), Vanessa Guerra (District 95), Brian Elder (District 96), Celia Young-Wenkel (District 97), Sarah Schultz (District 98), Allison Quast-Lents (District 99), Kathy Wiejaczka (District 101), Dan O’Neil (District 104), Bob Romps (District 108), Sarah Cambensy (District 109), Ken Summers (District 110)
The Michigan AFL-CIO Executive Council previously endorsed Gretchen Whitmer for Governor, Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State, and Sam Bagenstos and Megan Cavanagh for MI Supreme Court.
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Lansing, MI – In response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Epic Systems v. Lewis et al on whether forced individual employee arbitration violates the National Labor Relations Act, President Ron Bieber from the Michigan AFL-CIO released the following statement:
“Today in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court has paved the way for employers to block access to the courts for thousands of Michigan families whose employers have broken the law or violated their workplace civil rights.
With Trump-nominated Justice Neil Gorsuch casting the deciding vote, the Supreme Court broke with over eighty years of labor law and sided with corporate special interests, allowing employers to force employees to sign exploitative individual arbitration waivers as a condition of employment. That’s a spineless, backdoor way to repeal laws on the books: wage laws, anti-discrimination laws and others – these protections are of little use if workers can’t enforce them.
In Michigan, we know how critical it is for individuals to be able to voice their concerns together – and how harmful forced arbitration can be to women fighting sexual harassment and assault. Nobody, should have to sign away their civil rights just to have a job.
Today’s ruling continues a series of harmful rulings from the Roberts Court that erode workers’ rights and freedoms.”
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LANSING – A new report from the AFL-CIO shows that the state of Michigan had 162 workplace fatalities and 97,000 workplace-related injuries and illnesses in 2016. The report, titled Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, compiles data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2016, the most recent year data is available. These figures rose from the previous year when 134 workers were killed and 96,000 injured in 2015. The new data was released in advance of Workers Memorial Day, which takes place on April 28 to commemorate workers who have died or suffered illness or injury on the job.
This year marks an especially urgent fight as the Trump administration continues to roll back and weaken protections and rights for working people. These actions have ranged from repealing, weakening or delaying standards on toxic chemicals and safety hazards like workplace violence, to cutbacks in enforcement, and efforts to eliminate key job safety research and training programs.
“Every American has the right to a safe and healthy workplace. Hardworking men and women putting in long hours deserve to know that they’re going to make it home at the end of the day,” said Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber. “Yet, Michigan families are here mourning their loved ones. We’re here to fight for workplace safety for everyone.”
“Our leaders in government and business should be protecting working people’s lives above all else,” said Bieber. “It’s time for change. Working people deserve good, safe jobs now.”
Nationally, 5,190 American workers died on the job in 2016, an increase from 4,836 deaths the previous year. Another estimated 50,000 to 60,000 died from occupational diseases, meaning approximately 150 workers died on the job each day from preventable, hazardous workplace conditions. Overall, the national job fatality rate increased to 3.6 per 100,000 workers from 3.4 in 2015.
Startlingly, the national figures show that workplace violence is now the second-leading cause of workplace death, accounting for 866 workplace deaths, including 500 homicides.
Other report highlights show that the construction, transportation and agriculture industries remain among the most dangerous. In 2016, 991 construction workers were killed—the highest total of any sector. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting was the most dangerous industry sector per capita, with a fatality rate of 23.2 per 100,000 workers.
On Saturday, working people across Michigan will gather at Workers Memorial Day ceremonies to honor those who were hurt or killed on the job. Attendees will also speak out against recent actions taken by the Trump administration to roll back and block regulations that protect workers from serious hazards, like deadly silica dust, chemical explosions, and workplace violence, as well as cuts to the job safety budget.
https://aflcio.org/reports/death-job-toll-neglect-2018
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FLUSHING – The Michigan AFL-CIO formally endorsed Gretchen Whitmer for governor today at a press conference held at UA Local 370’s training center near Flint. The state labor federation represents 42 unions and over one million active and retired union members across Michigan.
“Working people in Michigan need a governor who will be in our corner,” said Ron Bieber, President of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “That’s why we’re endorsing Gretchen, because she’s a strong progressive leader who’s always had the backs of working families, and she’s the only candidate in this race with a real plan to fix the damn roads and create more good-paying jobs for Michigan. Our members are ready to roll up their sleeves, knock on doors, make phone calls, and get out the vote to help elect Gretchen as our next governor.”
As a progressive leader in the Michigan Legislature, Whitmer helped pass the Healthy Michigan law to expand Medicaid and cover 680,000 more Michiganders, including children, seniors, low-income and working-class families. Whitmer also led the fight against Governor Rick Snyder’s cuts to education and attacks on workers’ rights.
“Working people are the backbone of Michigan, and that’s why I’m so proud to have the support of so many hardworking union members in this race,” said Whitmer. “Michiganders have been working harder and harder, but working people aren’t getting any more money in their pockets. When I’m governor, we’re going to make smart investments to fix the roads, expand access to quality, affordable health care, and create jobs so that every hardworking Michigander gets a paycheck that can actually support a family.”
The Michigan AFL-CIO’s endorsement was approved by a unanimous vote of the executive council following an extensive candidate screening process, which included three town hall forums in Warren, Detroit, and Saginaw, featuring all four Democratic candidates for governor.
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