OUR VIEW: Proposal 2 is a Trojan Horse
Michigan’s ballot Proposal 2 is probably the greatest assault on jobs reform — make that future employment possibilities in Michigan — of several “special interest only” efforts to alter Michigan’s constitution.
It’s a blatant attempt to block the ability of future Legislatures to make needed decisions affecting life in Michigan.
The “Protect our Jobs” or “Protect our Families” proposed amendment to the constitution would not only dampen Michigan’s financial ability to hire more public safety employees and teachers; it could wipe out considerable legislation already on the books, including laws relative to the screening of pedophiles from teaching in public schools and the ban on teacher and public safety strikes. The fiscal instability alone is hardly what we need in these times.
Proposal 2 changes Michigan’s constitution to enhance the collective bargaining strength of unions and prevents Michigan from becoming a right to work state. However, the real issue is not about “right-to-work” or union shop. The proposal allows for the wipeout of years of labor legislation unions want to eliminate with this constitutional re-write. The resulting legal battles would add even more costs to the taxpayers.
At stake is many billions of taxpayer dollars here, including the overturn of more than $1 billion dollars in public employee entitlement reforms. Proponents of Proposal 2 have spent upward of $10 million on this campaign.
We, as a nation and a state, are still far from solving the serious economic challenges and financial deficiencies in our economy. “Protect our Jobs” is a misnomer … it would erase economic reforms that have already been achieved and work to limit money for new jobs. Existing jobs will continue to be at risk if communities can’t raise the taxes to support union demands. Without these reforms, we could run out of money to pay for health care and pension plans already earned and being paid.
The express purpose of Proposal 2 is to separate and shield Michigan’s public employees and their unions from the authority of Michigan’s Legislature and other elected officials, and the fiscal reforms deemed necessary for the good of the general population.
We support a “no” vote on Proposal 2.
Editorial opinions are the consensus of The Daily News editorial board.
I’m stunned at the obvious uneducated endorsement by the Daily News to vote “NO” on this proposal, particularly in this area once known for manufacturing and an abundance of blue-collar workers.
It is due to the legislation brought about by Organized Labor (Unions) that the American worker enjoys a high quality of life. In the not-so-distant past, America was a booming, productive country. However, workers toiled in unsafe and unregulated work environments with little pay and no benefits. Workers, fed up with those conditions, formed Unions and demanded that they be protected by the US Government. Safety regulations, minimum wage, and the right to collectively bargain for wages and benefits resulted, but only after painstaking legal actions and sometimes violent protests.
Corporations and businesses are about one thing; making more money. If given the chance, corporations would provide workers with as little pay as possible and no benefits. That is the sole reason that American businesses are relocating their labor and manufacturing to foreign countries…to save money on cheap labor while the prices of their products remain the same….with the blessing of our government. This is why Fridgidaire, Hitachi, and others have gone away.
Politicians from both domimnant parties, along with corporate support, have sought to demonize Unions for decades and have preyed upon the ignorance and emotions of those of us who may beconsidered “underpriviledged”. Anti union ads portray Union workers as overpaid and lazy. Some have even blamed Unions for bankrupting companies like General Motors or US Steel, when mismanagement and corporate greed were to blame.
Take this example: Police Officers and Firefighters are Unionized and have the legal right to bargain for their wages. If this bargaining ability were to be removed, you would have your public servants making about $9.00hr, and recieving no benefits. Imagine what kind of quality persons you’d have in charge of your public safety. Who would want these jobs? What person would invest any of their time and education into such a career?
Other systems of government around the world have touted the “fairness” of equal pay and “right to work”. You know them as “Socialism” and “Communism”. Strong Unions equal better paid employees, which in turn stimulates the economy through those employees purchasing goods, taking out loans and mortgages, and strengthening the American dollar around the globe.
Michigan’s financial status is not the fault of Unions.If we lose our right to collectively bargain, we will most certainly never get it back. I would encourage everyone to seriosly research both sides of this, and all of the proposals on the November ballot.