Protesters hold a silent protest in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, a day after thousands of protesters rallied on the grounds as lawmakers pushed final versions of right-to-work legislation. The tape over their mouths shows how Gov. Rick Snyder and his allies have silenced Michigan’s middle class, and effectively cut the wages of Michiganders by $1500. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
LANSING, Mich. - Now that Michigan has become a right-to-work state, unions in this stronghold of organized labour confront a new and urgent problem: convincing members to continue paying for their services instead of taking them for free.
Brushing aside protests from thousands of labour supporters, the Republican-controlled state House approved measures Tuesday making it illegal to require that nonunion workers pay fees to unions for negotiating wage contracts and other services. The Senate did likewise last week, and Gov. Rick Snyder swiftly signed the bills into law.
The laws take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns this month, giving unions little time to devise a strategy for keeping members on board and convincing nonmembers to continue their financial support.
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