News from Protect Our Jobs
CONTACT: Zack Pohl, 517-980-6190
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 7, 2012
Politicians pushing new bills to dismantle collective bargaining, punish public school employees
LANSING – Lansing politicians are retaliating against an effort launched by teachers, nurses, and construction workers yesterday to amend the state constitution to protect collective bargaining rights and strengthen Michigan’s middle class.
Today the Senate is expected to retaliate by passing HB 4929, which would punish public school teachers, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers by placing burdensome new restrictions on the collection of dues that protect employees through collective bargaining agreements.
“This blatant power grab by Lansing politicians is a perfect example of why we need to protect our jobs, our wages, and our voice at work,” said Karen Kuciel, a 5th grade teacher from Warren. “It’s clear politicians are more interested in punishing teachers like me than actually investing in public education or creating jobs.”
According to the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency, HB 4929 “would have no significant fiscal impact on school districts.”
Over the past year, Lansing politicians have moved one anti-worker measure after another, doing nothing to help put Michigan back to work. There are currently more than 80 bills pending in the Michigan Legislature that weaken protections for working people and dismantle collective bargaining rights.
Grassroots volunteers with the Protect Our Jobs campaign started gathering signatures yesterday to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to protect collective bargaining rights and strengthen the middle class.
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