Injunction sought on right-to-work law

Labor unions have brought a lawsuit against Michigan’s new Right to Work law.  Kathleen Gray and Paul Egan have the story in the Detroit Free Press.

The American Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of labor unions want to put a stop to Michigan’s new right-to-work law, saying in an amended lawsuit filed Thursday that the way it was passed violated the state’s Open Meetings Act, the First Amendment and the state constitution.

The lawsuit cites the fact that the state Capitol was locked down for several hours during the right-to-work debate Dec. 6, leaving several hundred people outside and unable to witness the debate or offer their input.

State Rep. Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, who sponsored the bill in the House, said: “This is just another example of how desperate they are to throw sand in the gears and take away workers having the right to choose whether to join a union.”

Shirkey said the Legislature had nothing to do with shutting down the Capitol during the right-to-work debate and it shouldn’t be punished for that.

Michigan State Police closed the Capitol during the debate in the Senate, at first saying the building was at capacity, then saying the concentration of a large and unruly crowd in front of the Senate chambers was a safety concern. A lawsuit was filed to reopen the Capitol that day, and the doors were reopened before the final vote was taken.