State Attorney General Bill Schuette says he expects Michigan’s new right-to-work law will be challenged in court, and he expects it will survive those lawsuits.
One possible challenge would focus on different treatment for different types of unions.
The law will allow workers for unionized employers to opt out of paying dues or fees. But the law won’t apply to police and firefighter unions.
Schuette said that could create too much disharmony in public safety units that require order and discipline.
“Firefighters, first-responders, law enforcement – they’re on the front lines of public safety. They have a very important, unique responsibility, making sure our streets and our neighborhoods are safe and secure, so this is a very appropriate carve-out. It was a correct carve-out,” he said.
Schuette said the law does apply to the state’s 35,000 civil service employees.
Some interpretations of the state constitution say the law can’t touch civil service workers. That’s because they are governed by the Michigan Civil Service Commission.
