Michigan Unions Challenge Payroll Dues Deduction Ban In Federal Court, Assert Free Speech Violation

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Workers Independent News


By Doug Cunningham

Four unions are suing the state of Michigan in federal court challenging the constitutionality of a law that essentially defunds the unions by outlawing payroll deduction of dues. The Michigan Education Association, the Michigan American Federation of Teachers chapter, AFSCME and SEIU Local 517M assert that the law is in part retaliation for the recall of a GOP state lawmaker. Howard Gordon is the staff attorney for SEIU Local 517M.

[Howard Gordon]: “Our claim is that it undermines our First Amendment rights and the Fourteenth Amendment rights to equal protection.”

A similar federal lawsuit brought by Wisconsin unions resulted in the court finding it unconstitutional to ban the payroll deduction of union dues, but that decision may be appealed. Gordon says all workers in Michigan have a stake in the outcome of this case because their political free speech rights are at stake.

[Howard Gordon 2]: “Working people from anywhere should be concerned about this because this is a stifling of a voice guaranteed under our constitutional rights.”


Read more: http://www.laborradio.org/Channels/Story.aspx?ID=1689838

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[ducduc]

1. Tea Party members who hate government regulation, no doubt, support the Unions right?

After all, this is a oppressive regulation, and we all know how much the tea party hates regulations.

[Omaha Steve]

2. WELCOME to the DU!!!

Glad you found us.

[AllyCat]

6. Welcome to DU! However, we have learned the Tea Partiers only

hate SOME regulation. When it comes to unions, they do what their corporate masters tell them to do.

[ducduc]

8. I am shocked! Shocked I tell you to hear this

And here I thought they took a principled and consistent stand on regulations.

[Scuba]

3. Thanks for posting Steve. Here's disposition of the same "law" in Wisconsin...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2481139


(Weird how this March 2012 thread is in DU2)

[groundloop]

4. I think they're making a mistake framing this as "freedom of speech"

Don't get me wrong, I fully support unions. I just don't see where the ability to collect dues equates to freedom of speech. It seems that every single time someone is wronged or think they are wronged they claim they're right to free speech is being infringed upon (Citizens United). I think they'd be better served calling this what it is, an attempt to kill unions.

[AllyCat]

5. Worked for us here in Wisco. Go Michigan!!

[roody]

7. This bad idea is once again on the California

ballot for November. Every time before it was voted down, thank goodness.

[xtraxritical]

9. We'll vote it down again.

What the hell happened to Wis. and Mi.? They used to be Democratic bastions, especially Wis. after McCarthy.