LANSING – The Michigan AFL-CIO released the following statement from President Ron Bieber regarding the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court:
“Judge Kavanaugh has a record of siding with the interests of corporations and employers and siding against the interests of working people and their families. The opinions that have been written by Judge Kavanaugh would undermine the freedoms of working men and women, make the work place less safe and make it harder to earn a fair wage to sustain a family. His nomination comes at a time when wealthy corporate interests continue to attack the freedoms of working people to further rig the rules in favor of the rich and powerful. Now more than ever, it’s important for working people to exercise their freedom to stand together to protect what our families need to build a better Michigan and a better America.
“Working families need a better deal and we need a government that works for everyone in all three branches. We are determined to make our voices heard and to elect leaders who have our back. The Senate should reject this nomination and demand a justice who has a record of supporting the rights of working people.”
LANSING – The Michigan AFL-CIO issued the following statement today from President Ron Bieber on the Supreme Court decision on Janus v. AFSCME 31.
“As billionaires and corporate special interests seek to further rig our economy against working people across the country, this is the latest attempt to take away our rights to join together in unions. It is a shame that these special interests have manipulated the Supreme Court to further their harmful agenda.
This decision comes at a point in time when thousands of Michigan workers are recommitting to join unions and are launching new organizing drives, and as support for labor unions has risen to its highest level in years. Indeed, Michigan added 52,000 new union members in 2017– the biggest annual jump in union membership in Michigan in over a decade. Even more importantly, it means there are now more union members in Michigan than there were in 2012 — the year Gov. Rick Snyder signed right-to-work legislation into law.
So we have faced these attacks before and we have weathered the storm well. The labor movement remains a strong and vibrant force for working people and will continue fighting to sustain our families, improve our workplaces and make our communities stronger regardless of the court’s ruling.”
Lansing – The Michigan AFL-CIO has hired Ryan Sebolt as their new Communications Director. Sebolt has over a decade of experience working in the Michigan legislature, serving in various capacities in both the House and Senate.
“We are happy to have Ryan join our team. He brings an in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of state and local government and has a history of standing up for working men and women,” said Ron Bieber, President of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “Ryan is going to be a great advocate in helping us build an economy that works for everyone and making sure workers earn a wage that can sustain a family.”
During his tenure in the legislature, Sebolt worked in both the House and Senate for lawmakers from the counties of Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland and Ingham. He also brings a background of working on campaigns at the state and local level.
“I grew up in a union household where my family experienced first-hand the kind of opportunities a living wage can provide a family,” said Sebolt. “Both of my parents worked hard to make sure my siblings and I had the chance to get ahead in life. Unfortunately, we’re living with an economy that is out of balance and CEOs and the wealthy are reaping the benefits. We need to change the rules so that hard working people like my parents can have a shot at living the American Dream.”
Sebolt is a Lansing native and a graduate of Albion College. He also currently serves on the Ingham County Board of Commissioners.
Ryan’s email address is rsebolt@miaflcio.org and his phone is 517-927-3917.
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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