Right to Work Repeal to Put Michiganders Under Union Yoke; CIE Offers a Way Out

LANSING, MI, MAY 17, 2023 — Today, the Center for Independent Employees (CIE) announces it is launching efforts to assist Michigan employees whose freedoms are under attack from the repeal of the state’s decade long right-to-work law. The right-to-work law had made it illegal for employees to be forced to pay union dues in order to keep their job. Consequently, the repeal means the best way to avoid union dues will be to remove the union from a job site and contract altogether.

CIE is poised to help independent-minded Michigan employees get back control of their job and future through the decertification or deathorization process.

Under right-to-work, Michigan employees in a unionized shop had the choice of whether to join the union. As a result, unions had an incentive to encourage membership based on the union’s merits. With repeal, that incentive will for all practical purposes disappear. Employees under a union contract will once again be forced to pay dues, whether they want to or not.

Repealing right-to-work takes away union accountability, “plain and simple,” said CIE General Counsel Jimmy Edwards. “The repeal stripping Michigan employees of their choice to disassociate with unions is exhibit A in the case against union legislative influence," Edwards said. “Polling has shown a large majority of Michiganders are opposed to this change.”

At CIE’s Michigan office, Executive Director Jared Rodriguez will serve as the key contact person for Michiganders who seek to remove unions from their workplaces. “We know and have already heard from a lot of hard-working people who don’t want unions dipping into their paychecks,” Rodriguez said. “CIE stands ready to help.”

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The Center for Independent Employees (CIE) is a 501(c)(3) legal defense foundation that provides legal representation and aid to independent employees who are opposed to union oppression in their workplaces.

Contact: Jared Rodriguez at Jared@CenterForIndependentEmployees.Org