By now we've all seen Chrysler's "Halftime in America" ad that aired for the first time during the Super Bowl. It is nothing short of inspiring: a stark reminder of the will of Michigan's workers to roll up their sleeves, gather collective strength, and push through some of the hardest times our state and our nation have ever seen.

We're making a comeback because we understand the power of cooperation and collaboration. As Clint Eastwood pointed out, "But after those trials, we all rallied around what was right, and acted as one. Because that's what we do. We find a way through tough times, and if we can't find a way, then we'll make one."

Unbelievably, there are politicians in our state Legislature who want to divide us and dismantle everything we stand for to appease corporate special interests. They want Michigan to follow Indiana's race to the bottom and become a right-to-work state. Those pushing the right-to-work agenda make the false and misleading claim that workers in Michigan are forced to join a union. But nothing could be further from the truth.

There are no laws forcing workers to pay union dues or belong to a union.

Even Gov. Rick Snyder and Senate Republican Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, won't get behind turning Michigan into a right-to-work state. Both have said this issue is too divisive, and shouldn't be a priority at a time when elected officials must remain focused on creating jobs.

Six of the 10 states with the highest unemployment rates are right-to-work states, and all six of those states have higher unemployment rates than Michigan. After Oklahoma passed its right-to-work law, jobs fell by 25 percent and the number of companies moving there dropped by 33 percent.

Workers earn an average of $1,500 less per year in right-to-work states, and struggle with higher health care costs and gutted retirement benefits. Right to work is a power grab aimed at weakening workers' rights that will lower wages and will not create a single job or educate one child.

This weekend marked the 75th anniversary of the Flint Sit-Down strike, which was a turning point for our country's middle class and a victory for workers wanting a safer, more secure workplace and a better life for their families. The higher wages, health care, pensions, and vacation time bargained for by workers through their unions carried over into every workplace in America, and Michigan was a leader in this important movement. Indiana just became the 23rd right-to-work state, and we need to make sure no other state, including Michigan, becomes the 24th. Why should we follow such states off a cliff, as extremist politicians would have us do, when we have an opportunity to lead?

Corporate special interests ran our economy into the ground, and it's time to take back everything Michigan has lost. What we haven't lost is our heart, and our spirit, and our belief that if we work together and rally around what's right, we'll make our way.

Karla Swift is president of the Michigan AFL-CIO.

Statement of Support for the Organizing of the Graduate Student Research Assistants by the AFT at the University of Michigan

The Michigan Conference of the American Association of University Professors (MI-AAUP) supports the efforts of the graduate student research assistants at the University of Michigan to form a union for collective bargaining.

“The MI-AAUP believes that the graduate research assistants at the University of Michigan, like other research assistants at several institutions, are employees and therefore eligible for collective bargaining rights as afforded under Michigan law,” said Susan Moller, President of the MI-AAUP.

In taking this position, the MI-AAUP supports the decision of the University of Michigan Board of Regents, which in May 2011 recognized graduate student research assistants as employees with the right to vote to form a union.

“There is substantial evidence to confirm GSRAs’ employee status,” Moeller said. “They receive W-2s from the University; they receive appointments, stipends, tuition waivers and benefits consistent with Graduate Student Instructors and Graduate Student Staff Assistants who are classified as employees; they perform identical work as post-doctoral fellows, who are also classified as employees. The bottom line is that GSRAs are compensated for work that benefits the University.”

The Michigan AAUP stands in support of the Graduate Employees Organization and AFT Michigan as they work to help graduate student research assistants at the University of Michigan organize, and calls upon other higher education organizations to make similar statements.

“Finally, we call upon our faculty colleagues at the University of Michigan not to attempt to affect the outcome of the vote,” said Moeller. “For the right to vote to be meaningful, it has to be exercised without even the appearance of intimidation or restraint.”

Michigan Democrats developing college grant plan

Published: Thursday, January 12, 2012, 12:04 AM     Updated: Thursday, January 12, 2012, 12:09 AM

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats in the Michigan Senate said Wednesday they're developing a proposal that would allow Michigan high school graduates to get grants of up to roughly $9,500 a year for attending college by ending some business tax credits and other revenue changes.

The grants could be used to pay tuition or associated costs at public universities and community colleges in the state. The money would be raised by closing what Democrats call tax loopholes and ending some business tax credits, collecting sales tax from out-of-state Internet retailers and saving money on state contracts.

Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, the Senate's Democratic leader, said investment in education is needed to revitalize Michigan and boost its economy. State aid for public education has dwindled in recent years, with universities facing a 15 percent reduction in state aid for operations in the current fiscal year. Universities say reduced state aid is a major factor contributing to tuition increases.

Domestic partners sue Snyder, state over law prohibiting providing health insurance

By David Ashenfelter

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Jan 6, 2012

Gerardo Ascheri says he thought he had escaped repression when he emigrated from Argentina to the U.S. in 1987 and eventually became an American citizen.
But the 54-year-old self-employed East Lansing music teacher said things changed Dec. 22 when Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation that immediately prohibits certain public employers from providing health insurance and other benefits to domestic partners.

"It comes as a shock to me that all of a sudden, I am again a second-class citizen," a tearful Ascheri said at a news conference Thursday in Detroit where the American Civil Liberties Union announced the filing of a federal lawsuit against Snyder and the state to strike down the law.

Thanks to Snyder and the Legislature, Ascheri said he no longer qualifies for health coverage through his long-term partner, Doak Bloss, Ingham County's health equity and social justice coordinator.