The state's right-to-work law may be an incentive for Wayne State University's faculty union to reach a contract.
Kim Kozlowski of the Detroit News reports that the faculty could reach an agreement as soon as this week, which would circumvent the right-to-work law. The legislation doesn't take effect until March 28, and so the contract could require everyone to pay dues to the union, contrary to what the law says.
Kozlowski writes:
WSU's union is among several teacher unions trying to ratify contracts before the state's right-to-work law takes effect March 28. Securing a contract before then denies union members the choice of whether to pay dues.
Some say the move circumvents the spirit of the new law.
"It's definitely unfair to their members that the democratically elected Legislature has said that they have the right to choose, and these moves are clearly making an end run around the intent of the Legislature," said F. Vincent Vernuccio, director of labor policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a free-market think tank in Midland. "If they were confident that they were providing the best service, they wouldn't be worried about members dropping them as soon as they are able."
