Union goons storm Mich. Capitol, grub free food as lawmakers take up right-to-work bill; Updated
http://twitter.com/#!/StopBigLabor/status/276711267773857793
Coworker, just now: “This is going to be one of the biggest political fights Michigan has ever seen.” #rtw #righttowork
— Sven Gustafson (@sveng) December 6, 2012
Michiganders fed up with being under Big Labor’s thumb are marching today on the Michigan capitol in favor of right-to-work legislation. If enacted, members of unions such as the UAW would no longer be forced to contribute dues:
[Terry] Bowman was forced to join the UAW when he began working for Ford in 1996. He had to pay the union dues or a steep agency fee as a condition of employment. Right-to-work, he says, would give workers the freedom to withhold their dues if they do not approve of how union officials spend the money.
“I’m very pro-union on the context of what unions were created to do: to bargain on behalf of their members in the context of the workplace,” he said. “But unions are forcing their members to pay for a political agenda that many of them don’t agree with.”
Unions are countering by asserting that right-to-work legislation would put an end to collective bargaining. That is not the case:
“It doesn’t ban unions or collective bargaining—that’s protected by federal law [the National Labor Relations Act],” he said. “It makes union officials answerable and accountable to the workforce.”
And that’s a cause worth uniting behind.
New video, blog – Gov Rick Snyder @onetoughnerd explains why Michigan should adopt Freedom to Work: ow.ly/fSBKz
— Rick Snyder (@onetoughnerd) December 6, 2012
Americans for Prosperity Michigan is leading the charge:
The time is now to #savemi and pass #MIRTW. Support worker freedom!
— AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 6, 2012
And despite union thugs’ best efforts at intimidation, right-to-work advocates are holding the line:
@michellemalkin Union thugs must be cold. Not a ton of them here yet. twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
@michellemalkin Conservatives coming out in force to back the Right To Work legislation. #tcot #lnyhbt twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
Americans For Prosperity starting to assemble.@michellemalkin @khoekstra #tcot twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
Americans for Prosperity Deputy Director Annie Patnaude hard at work today @michellemalkin @khoekstra #tcot twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
#Snyder has called for legislature to pass #RighttoWork: #SaveMI and pass #MIRTW! #RTW twitter.com/AFPMichigan/st…
— AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 6, 2012
Americans For Prosperity numbers growing in the fight to take back Michigan. @michellemalkin @khoekstra #tcot twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
Americans for Prosperity inside the capital.You won’t see the media cover that. @michellemalkin @khoekstra #tcot twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
Round 2 #WorkplaceFreedom Lobby Day: #MIRTW is on the agenda: RT if you want to end forced unionization! twitter.com/AFPMichigan/st…
— AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 6, 2012
Unions are reacting in typical fashion:
SEIU thugs just called me a freeloader?LMAO #tcot twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
Union workers doing what they do best.Stand around @michellemalkin @khoekstra #tcot #lnyhbt twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
Union reps told me to F Off when I asked when are you guys not on break @michellemalkin @khoekstra #tcot twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
Union Rep in the Americans For Prosperity tent helping himself to free food. @michellemalkin @khoekstra #tcot twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
But of course.
Unions bringing in people from out of state.This is a Michigan issue morons. @michellemalkin @khoekstra #tcot twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
These extras were evidently bused in for thug reinforcements. The capitol was put on lockdown after being stormed by union members:
#rtw #mirtw #nfib MI State Capitol locked down police break up fist fight and arrest protesters wearing. SEIU jackets
— Charles Owens (@OwensNFIB) December 6, 2012
MSP has LOCKED DOWN Capitol after out-of-state protesters tried to break down doors to state House! 1 thug pepper spryd twitter.com/MichiganFreedo…
— Protecting Michigan(@ProtectMichigan) December 6, 2012
Union thugs tried to break down chamber doors. Capital now on lockdown. @michellemalkin @khoekstra #tcot twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
Capitol facilities just told me they’ve had 8 people arrested and 1 injured. #MIRTW
— Lindsay Vogelsberg (@LVogelsberg) December 6, 2012
Union skull-crackers notwithstanding, the Michigan legislature will take up the right-to-work bill today:
RT @conncarroll: BREAKING: Right to Work bill drops in Michigan. Both chambers to take up legislation today.
— Brian Faughnan (@BrianFaughnan) December 6, 2012
! Very big. RT @thematthewkeys: Reuters: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says will pursue making state 24th to adopt a “right-to-work” law
— Kate Hicks (@KateBHicks) December 6, 2012
Looking good for #RTW in Michigan. @onetoughnerd “When it arrives on my desk, I plan on signing it.” Let’s #savemi; pass #MIRTW.
— AFP-Michigan (@AFPMichigan) December 6, 2012
If the bill passes, Michigan would be come one of the largest right-to-work states in the country. And that’s more than AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka can handle:
Republican legislators & Gov. Rick Snyder are willing to put politics ahead of Michigan’s well-being.This could not be more divisive.
— Richard L. Trumka (@RichardTrumka) December 6, 2012
Stmt by AFL-CIO Pres @richardtrumka on Right to Work in Michigan bit.ly/Uh1dw9
— Josh Goldstein (@JoshG54) December 6, 2012
Perhaps he should reserve his outrage for his criminal minions.
Americans For Prosperity not backing down to Union thugs @michellemalkin @khoekstra #tcot #lnyhbt twitter.com/Moondizog/stat…
— Michael Moon (@Moondizog) December 6, 2012
Good for them. Stand strong, Michigan.
Proud of @onetoughnerd for supporting Right-To-Work legislation. Make sure he knows he has your support! #migov #MICHIGAN #tcot
— Blake Gober (@Blakegober) December 6, 2012
***
Update:
The bill has passed in the Michigan State House and Senate.