A state board voted today to restrict state employee’s collective bargaining power. Ahead of the meeting, hundreds of union workers gathered to protest.
A few hundred people gathered before the Michigan Civil Service Commission met.
“I’m concerned with them taking away our overtime pay. I’m concerned with them taking away our seniority.”
Liz Burton is a chief steward for the Michigan Department of Correction’s union. She says she’s frustrated because the board is taking away rights they deserve.
Mary Ann Cullen says unions are responsible for benefits that lots of people receive.
“If anyone gets a lunch break, at all, they can thank a union. If anyone gets maternity leave, they can thank a union for that.”
Backers of the move say the new rules will improve government efficiency.
Bob Swanson was the only no vote on the four-person board. He says the state took away rights the unions and state previously bargained for.
“The state agreed to them. The state ratified them. It just seems to me to totally destroy the collective bargaining system to unilaterally then abrogate those.”
Jase Bolger voted in favor of the changes. He says the board needs to increase efficiency in state employment. He says the new rules standardize some processes.
“We heard the examples of the silliness of seniority. Where somebody’s time serving with the state in a different capacity wouldn’t be counted just because they don’t belong to that union. So I think this improves the process and ultimately is more responsible for taxpayers.”
Union members say the board stripped their power. There is no administrative process to appeal the board's decision. However, unions could try to take up the issues with the board in the future. A representative from the United Auto Workers says they don’t have anything planned yet.