Marathon Pundit: NLRB overreach, right-to-work edition

Seney, Michigan

Will Michigan, a big union state, become a right-to-work state? Oh, Michigan was the only state to lose population between in the last census.

From the Washington Times:

In this historic stronghold of the American labor movement, the phrase "right to work" is seen by many as fighting words.

But with a new GOP-controlled state Legislature and a Republican governor in place in Lansing, a move is afoot to make Michigan the 23rd state in the nation to adopt legislation that would prohibit unions and employers from regulating collection of union dues or requiring employees to join a union if their workplace is organized.

"We've got growing and substantial support in the Legislature for pursuing Michigan becoming a right-to-work state, but this is a marathon, not a sprint, and it's all about making sure we are removing all obstacles to jobs," said state Rep. Mike Shirkey, Clarklake Republican.

"Everyone acknowledges that overcoming the 75-plus-year history of legacy unions here is not something you do overnight. But some of the polls statewide indicate the public is moving toward a direction of supporting workers having the choice," he said. "I'm not anti-union. I call it labor freedom, where unions are as free to make their case as workers are to make their choice."

Virginia is a right-to-work state. George Allen wants to keep it that way.

From a Richmond Times-Dispatch op-ed:

Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen will today roll out his "Freedom to Work Act," a three-pronged blueprint to free U.S. businesses of what he sees as onerous burdens imposed by the federal government.

Allen will unveil his plan at Botetourt County-based Dynax America Corp., a Japanese subsidiary that manufactures parts for automotive transmissions. Allen recruited the business to the state as governor in 1996.

The goals of the plan, Allen said Tuesday in an interview with The Times-Dispatch, are to "help businesses create jobs, save the taxpayers money and protect the liberty of working men and working women."

The first tenet of the plan, "Freedom of Movement," would strip the National Labor Relations Board of the power to order any employer to move, shut down, or transfer employment.

Governor Nikki Haley spoke to the Dorchester, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce about Boeing. From the Summerville Journal Scene:

The room of 250 local business people and elected officials awarded Haley with strong applause when she talked about her fight with the National Labor Relations Board, which is suing Boeing for moving Dreamliner production to the Charleston area.

Boeing's expansion adds 2,000 jobs in South Carolina, but it also adds 1,000 jobs in Washington, she said. No jobs were lost because of the move, Haley said.

"It's the most un-American thing I've ever seen happen and we're going to fight it every step of the way."

She's talked to officials at Boeing and asked them to fight the case and not settle. She believes fighting will lead to a win for business, but settling will open the door for future lawsuits.