Book it, done. MI Gov. Rick Snyder has signed his state’s right-to-work bill into law. Michigan, the home of the United Auto Workers and the heavily unionized auto industry, becomes the nation’s 24th right-to-work state.
The day was marred by widespread union violence in Lansing, Michigan’s capital. Unions bussed protesters in from several neighboring states, and teachers left work in two school districts to protest to such an extent that those districts shut down. Union boss Jimmy Hoffa Jr. has promised “civil war” and the state Democratic Party directly threatened “blood.” Americans for Prosperity’s on-site tent was torn down by unknown union operatives, with people including children inside. Conservative comedian and PJ alum Steven Crowder was assaulted by a man who appeared to be a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union. A reward has been building on Twitter for the assailant’s arrest and prosecution. The man was at the protest representing the IBEW, opening the possibility of Crowder suing the union itself. On Twitter, Crowder says that the man also threatened to kill him.
President Barack Obama has sided with the unions against the right-to-work law. He has not spoken out on the union violence so far.
The new law turns Michigan into an open shop state, meaning workers will not be forced to join unions as a condition of employment. Workers who elect not to join unions will not have their paychecks skimmed by unions against their will. The right of collective bargaining is not impacted by the law.
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