A letter from a union leader shows that endorsements from organized labor don't come without strings attached.
Saundra Williams, president of the metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO signed a letter dated April 30, 2010, that stated "... failure to commit to this pledge stating that you will refrain from supporting the "privatization" of public sector jobs, Charter Schools and "Right-To-Work" legislation ... will jeopardize the status of any current or future support of your candidacy for any office."
Williams didn't return an e-mail or phone call seeking comment.
The letter also included a questionnaire sent out by the union asking political candidates specific questions.
The letter states, for instance, that "right-to-work" laws have increased infant mortality.
The questionnaire asks politicians if they support charter schools and if they'd speak out at public meetings. It also asks if they support Wal-Mart stores and if they carry an AT&T cell phone, which the letter states is the only unionized cell phone company.
Some school districts have saved money by privatizing some services. Durand Area Public Schools administrators said they saved $190,000 privatizing custodial and some cafeteria workers.
University of Michigan economist Don Grimes has said that Michigan should consider right-to-work laws if it wants to go after manufacturing jobs or else risk losing them to the southern states where the law is common.
"What they want is a candidate's pledge that they will continue flushing Michigan's economy down the hole before they will support them," said Leon Drolet, chairman of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. "Smart unions realize they can't rely on Democrats to maintain control of all branches of government forever. They know how to shave off just enough Republicans to prevent reforms."
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See also:
Michigan Capitol Confidential Vote History
A Pair of Republicans Help House Dems Dump Right-to-Work
School Union Denounces Privatization
School Pension Reform Stalls in Senate
GOP Senators, SEIU Taxpayer Giveaways, Campaign Cash and More, OH MY!
Tight security locked out dozens of anti-right-to-work protesters from the State Capitol as Governor Snyder was delivering his "State of the State" address. Protesters tried to disrupt the speech by banging and chanting outside the building.
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FROM MICHIGAN HOME HELP PROGRAM PROVIDERS — OFTEN FAMILY MEMBERS
ATTORNEY GENERAL ORDERED THE STATE TO STOP TAKING MONEY ON MAY 25, 2012
opinion May 25, 2012
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) "organized” Michigan's self-employed Home Help Program providers for the purpose of skimming dues from their ailing and disabled clients' Medicaid subsidy checks. The majority of these providers are relatives or friends taking care of loved ones. It’s been estimated that less than 25 percent of the providers are hired in an employment setting.
The first counter tallies SEIU dues skimmed since the union and state officials first launched this scheme in late 2006. The second shows the amount skimmed since June 9, 2011, when the Michigan House passed and sent to the Senate a bill to ban this and all similar “stealth unionization” efforts. The third counter shows the dues skimmed since the Governor signed the bill into law on April 10, 2012. The fourth counter shows the amount skimmed since May 25, 2012, when the Attorney General opinion was announced.
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