LANSING, Mich. (January 13, 2023) — Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) hit the ground running on the first day of the new legislative session, introducing Senate Bill 5, a bill to repeal Michigan’s so-called Right to Work (RTW) law and better protect workers across the state.
“Michigan workers have been dealing with the effects of this unjust law for over a decade, and today we took an important step toward restoring the power for workers to organize and collectively bargain for fair working conditions, which will benefit our entire state,” said Camilleri.
Michigan’s controversial “Right-to-Work” law was first passed in 2012 in an all-night Lame Duck legislative session without bipartisan input or support, and studies have shown that workers in RTW states, both union and non-union, tend to earn lower wages on average and have lower-quality health and retirement benefits.
“As the son and grandson of union autoworkers, I’ve seen firsthand how union membership builds power in our families and communities, and with this legislation, we can finally grant workers greater freedom to join a union and get the pay, benefits, and protections they need and deserve.”
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