Governor Rick Snyder says Proposal 2 should not be viewed as a referendum on whether Michigan becomes a right-to-work state that outlaws compulsory union membership.
Proposal 2 would guarantee collective bargaining rights in the state constitution.
Governor Snyder opposes Proposal 2. He says it not only guarantees collective bargaining, but would be a sweeping re-write of labor laws as they deal with public employees.
“Proposal 2 could be devastating, in my view, of what it could do to the economic recovery in Michigan, but people need to make their own assessment of how to vote,” he said.
But he said rejecting the proposal would not convince him Michigan is ready to become a right-to-work state.
“I don’t view it as just a green light to go ahead,” he said.
The governor has asked the Legislature to stay away from the right-to-work debate because it’s too divisive. But he has not said what he would do if the Legislature sent a bill to his desk.
One of the leading proponents of right to work in the Legislature says he won’t push the issue until he has the governor’s support.
