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Health & Fitness

Happy first anniversary Right to Work (or if you pass it jobs will come)

Friday, March 28,2014 will be the first anniversary of Michigan's Right to Work legislation. This legislation makes it possible for union members to receive pay and benefits negotiated by their union, but pay nothing toward the cost of negotiating these pay and benefits. 
Oddly enough, at the time state Republicans were quoted as saying that this would improve harmony in the workplace. State Republicans were quoted as saying this legislation would create a job rush into the State of Michigan that would rival the Great Oklahoma Land Rush. State Republicans were quoted as saying this would provide "Freedom to Work" and create such a state of nirvana as to rival what William F Buckley described as "immanentizing the eschaton". State Republicans said nothing at the time about potholes or other such issues that the public has absolutely NO interest in. Alas poor Yorick, (Hamlet Act 5, scene 1) this whole issue was more about providing a political Kristallnacht to unions and their leftist leanings than supposed justice for the enslaved union worker.
So one year later (the paper anniversary) I am still waiting for the great job rush to Michigan, workplace harmony and workers set free from the chains of unionism. Fact is that one year later no one who supported this legislation still has ANY fundamental understanding that members could ALWAYS quit their union. They did not have to pay dues towards politics that they did not agree with. They only had to pay those costs associated with the negotiation of their pay and benefits. Right to Work allows these individuals to pay nothing and reap the benefits. (A sure recipe for workplace harmony).
So one year later I would say the marriage is on the rocks and we need some good legislators and a good divorce attorney. If not perhaps a conscious uncoupling like Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin are now exploring.

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