Compulsory Union Dues in Michigan

Nearly one million Michigan workers are forced to financially support a union in order to keep their jobs. Although federal law permits unions and employers to force workers to pay for union representation in the workplace, the law does not extend to forcing workers to pay unions for representation in the political arena. Over three-fourths of union workers are not aware that they do not have to fund their unions' political, social, and ideological agendas. This report documents the developing law surrounding compulsory union dues in Michigan, shows workers how to exercise their rights to a dues refund, presents positive union strategies for making workers aware of their rights, and calls for executive action by the governor. 28 pp.

Contents

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
  • Chart 1
  • Chart 2
• Legislative Framework of NLRA—Thwarting Worker Rights
  • Exclusive Representation
  • Union Security
  • Mandatory Bargaining
• The Developing Law Protecting Worker Rights
  • Early Court Decisions
  • Extending Protection to Public Sector Workers
  • Extending Protection to Private Sector Workers
  • Legal Developments at the National Labor Relations Board
  • Case Law Conclusion
• Extending Worker Rights to Reduced Dues
  • President Bush’s Executive Order
  • National Labor Relations Board
  • Enforcement Options For Beck Objectors
• Exercising Worker Beck Rights in Michigan
  • Why Beck Rights Are Important To Workers
    • Chart 3
  • Why Beck Rights Are Important To Labor Unions
  • Why Beck Rights Are Important To Employers
• The Need for Executive Action By the Governor
• Conclusion
• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Appendix C
• Acknowledgments
• Endnotes