Detroit Regional Chamber > Advocacy > Gov. Whitmer Signs Bills to Repeal Right-to-Work, Restore Prevailing Wage

Gov. Whitmer Signs Bills to Repeal Right-to-Work, Restore Prevailing Wage

March 29, 2023

The Detroit News
March 24, 2023 
Craig Mauger

Lansing — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered two significant victories for Michigan labor unions Friday by signing a repeal of the 2012 right-to-work law and a reinstatement of the prevailing wage standard for state-funded construction projects.

By undoing the Republican-backed right-to-work policy, Democrats, who won control of the Legislature in November, will again allow businesses and unions to reach agreements that require workers to pay union dues or fees as a condition of their employment. However, the move could set the stage for a high-stakes ballot proposal fight in 2024 over placing right to work in the state Constitution.

Whitmer announced the signing of the three bills in a press release Friday afternoon, contending the legislation would “restore workers’ rights.”

“Michigan workers are the most talented and hard-working in the world and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” Whitmer said in the statement. “These bills will protect health and safety, ensuring health care workers can put patient care ahead of profit, construction workers can speak up when there’s a safety issue and employees can call attention to food safety threats and other problems.