FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, June 15, 2023
Media Contact: Conner Wood, cwood@miaflcio.org
Michigan AFL-CIO Calls for the Passage of Laws Restoring Local Control
LANSING, Mich. – Today, the Michigan AFL-CIO, along with dozens of organizations, workers, and local elected officials testified to the House Labor Committee in support of House Bills 4231 and 4237. These bills restore the ability of local governments to pass labor and workforce policies that are best for their communities and give power back to local elected officials and the residents they serve.
“The Snyder administration passed law after law hurting working families, and PA 105 and PA 98 were among the worst,” said Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron BIEBER. “These laws took power away from local communities just like gerrymandering and voter suppression do. Restoring local control will give power back to working people and the local leaders they elected to represent them.”
The Michigan AFL-CIO submitted letters to the Labor Committee signed by over 120 local elected officials calling on the Michigan state House to pass House Bills 4231 and 4237.
HB 4237 sponsored by Representative Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph) repeals PA 105 of 2015, also known as the “Death Star” bill. Backed by corporate lobbyists, the law took away local elected leaders’ ability to pass measures over workforce issues like job quality, wages, benefits, hours, and scheduling, all in the name of making it easier for corporations to keep wages low and make a bigger profit for themselves.
“These laws should have never been passed in the first place,” said Kalamazoo County Commission Chair John TAYLOR. “They were nothing more than a transparent attack on local communities and the hardworking people who make our towns and cities thrive. It’s time that our leaders in Lansing repeal this abusive preemption law and allow local communities to better support working families.”
Above: Kalamazoo County Commission Chair John Taylor.
“Too often, our state and federal officials are in gridlock or unable to move quickly enough to address the needs of local communities like ours,” said Jackson Mayor Daniel MAHONEY. “Our officials right here in Jackson, not Lansing or Washington, know what’s needed to respond to the issues affecting our workers and the legislature should act swiftly to let us do our jobs.”
“These preemption laws disproportionately impact minority and low-income communities,” said Berrien County Commissioner Chokwe PITCHFORD. “Abusive preemption laws like these took away the ability of local elected officials to pass laws that meaningfully improve our constituents’ lives.”
Above: Berrien County Commissioner Chokwe Pitchford.
HB 4231 sponsored by Representative Jenn Hill (D-Marquette) repeals PA 98 of 2011 which banned municipalities from entering into Project Labor Agreements, collective bargaining agreements made between unions and contractors to ensure workers on taxpayer-funded construction projects are getting fair wages and benefits. They protect taxpayers’ investments by eliminating costly delays due to labor conflicts or shortages of skilled workers, and ensure the highest quality work for critical public projects.
“Project Labor Agreements save many municipalities money in the long run,” said Lansing Councilmember Jeremy GARZA. “When construction is completed with higher quality labor it lasts longer and provides a better value to taxpayers.”
“My constituents in Warren elected me to represent their values and interests on the City Council,” said Warren City Councilmember Angela ROGENSUES. “These preemption laws take away power from local governments to respond to their constituents’ needs. Michigan’s legislature should act quickly to restore these rights to local communities.”
The Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan’s largest labor organization, is a federation representing forty different labor organizations, eighteen different central labor councils, and eight constituency groups representing over 1 million union members and their families.
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