FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 9, 2025
Contact: Leah Leszczynski, lleszczynski@miaflcio.org, 989.316.6044
DETROIT, MI — Today, Michigan’s labor movement rallied outside the Michigan Court of Appeals prior to arguments in the case regarding pro-labor bills that have been unconstitutionally stalled by Republican House Speaker Matt Hall.
“This case is about whether our lawmakers in Lansing stand with workers. It’s about whether Michigan makes sure our public servants and the people who make the state function earn fair wages, benefits, and a dignified retirement,” said Ron BIEBER, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “And now, it’s about whether we make sure everyone in Michigan has to follow the state Constitution — including Speaker Matt Hall.”<
“The Michigan Constitution is clear: the House is obligated to transmit bills that pass the legislature to the governor,” said attorney Mark BREWER, counsel for the Michigan Senate. “We urge the Michigan Court of Appeals to uphold Michigan’s Constitution and order the House to transmit these bills to the governor.”
“Corrections officers are the backbone of Michigan’s public safety system, yet we are being pushed to the breaking point. The House’s refusal to transmit HB 4665, HB 4666, and HB 4667 undermines both the constitution and our state’s ability to fix the prison staffing crisis,” said Tim FLEURY, a corrections officer at Alger Correctional Facility and a member of MCO. “These bills, already passed by both chambers, would allow officers to join the State Police hybrid pension plan — a critical step in recruiting and retaining the next generation of corrections professionals. It is unacceptable that the courts are now doing the job our legislators should have done months ago. Michigan can’t afford further delay when officers’ health, families, and the safety of our communities are on the line.”
“Nurses are constantly being asked to do more with less — these bills represent thousands of dollars for Michigan’s public sector workers and their families, and have already passed the state legislature,” said Kara AYOTTE, president of MNA-UMPNC. “We can only pour so much from an empty cup. These bills have already been passed in the House and Senate, and we urge Speaker Hall to follow Michigan’s constitution and send them to Governor Whitmer for her signature.”
“I love my job and the opportunity to help members of my community as a bus driver. But in order to serve others, us public servants need to be able to take care of ourselves,” said Jennifer WIRRICK, president of USW Local 9036. “Public sector workers shouldn’t be fighting over scraps. If Matt Hall cares about public servants, I urge him to act like it. I urge him to follow our state’s Constitution send House Bill 6058 to the governor.”
“Speaker Matt Hall had the opportunity to put Michigan workers and their families first – but he hasn’t. Instead, Speaker Hall decided to make life harder — while creating a constitutional crisis,” said UAW Vice President Laura DICKERSON. “We plan on making sure these bills become law, whether through the Court of Appeals or the court of public opinion.”
“I have every confidence that the Court of Appeals will agree with the previous court’s decision: bills that pass both chambers must go to the governor. It’s simple,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie BRINKS (D-Grand Rapids). “We know that, to Matt Hall, this legal battle isn’t really about the Constitution, because the Constitution couldn’t be clearer. This fight is actually about the Speaker’s inability to accept that he is not a king. Whether it’s intentionally stalling a budget or playing politics with Michiganders’ paychecks and health care, he demonstrates time and time again that, for him, drama trumps duty.”
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.
Video of the press conference is available upon request.
