From The Progressive: http://www.progressive.org/right-to-work-as-goes-michigan-so-goes-nation
By Ruth Conniff,
December 11, 2012
As the world watches massive labor protests at the state capitol building in Lansing, Michigan, today, Wisconsinites are seeing a repeat of the struggle in Madison two years ago.
Only this time the stakes are even higher.
Republicans, the Chamber of Commerce, and a coalition of now-familiar rightwing millionaires (the Koch brothers as well as Michigan Amway heir Dick DeVos) have banded together to pass right-to-work legislation in Michigan, the birthplace of the United Autoworkers.
What does it mean if Michigan, cradle of the industrial labor movement in America, becomes a right-to-work state?
“That’s the thing, isn’t it?” says Jane Slaughter, the editor of Labor Notes, the Detroit-based publication that has been the voice of union activists for the last 33 years.
If Michigan passes right to work legislation, as governor Rick Snyder and the Republicans who control the state legislature have promised, “can Wisconsin be far behind?” asks Slaughter.
What about Pennsylvania, where anti-union Governor Tom Corbett has said right-to-work legislation would be too controversial to pass.
“That’s exactly what our governor said,” Slaughter points out.
“Are we going to be a right-to-work nation, except for New York or California?” Slaughter asks.
Continue reading at: http://www.progressive.org/right-to-work-as-goes-michigan-so-goes-nation
