Michigan Legislative Races: Republican Candidates and Labor Rights
Republican candidates in the Michigan Legislature face scrutiny over their positions on labor rights, potentially affecting their relationships with unions and workers.
Democrats currently maintain a slim majority in the Michigan House of Representatives, where every seat is up for grabs this election year.
In a significant legislative move, Michigan repealed its right-to-work law in March 2023, marking a first for any state in nearly six decades. Right-to-work laws prevent mandatory union membership or dues as employment conditions, which labor advocates argue undermines union strength by limiting resources and negotiating power for workers.
All Republican legislators in the Michigan House, including District 29’s Rep. Jim Desana, voted against the repeal. Desana has previously highlighted his union background, expressing appreciation for their contributions to the workforce.
“Having been a proud member of the Teamsters local 1038 and the Laborers local 1191 back in my early working years, I value what these organizations have done for the working Men and Women of Downriver and Monroe County,” Desana stated. “God Bless all of the American workers who build our cars and trucks, transport our products, build our roads and bridges and construct our buildings.”
Reps. Jamie Thompson (District 28), Mark Tisdel (District 45), and Donni Steele (District 54) also stood against the repeal. These districts are situated in or near southeastern Michigan.
Rylee Linting, the Republican contender in District 27, announced her intention to support right-to-work laws if elected.
“Let’s make sure we protect Right to Work and promote our Trade Schools and Community Colleges across the state,” Linting shared on Facebook in February 2023.
Thompson, Tisdel, and Steele also opposed Senate Bill 6, which secured union wages for public construction projects, and House Bill 4354, expanding bargaining rights for teachers’ unions.
The Michigan Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, boasts around 120,000 members.
In 2018, labor activists successfully pushed the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) towards a referendum vote, mandating employers provide a minimum of one hour of earned sick time per 30 hours worked. Employees at larger firms could accumulate up to 72 hours of paid sick leave annually.
The then-Republican-led Michigan Legislature preemptively enacted ESTA, avoiding a ballot vote, and later utilized a tactic called “adopt and amend” to dilute the law, reducing guaranteed sick time from 72 to 40 hours and slowing accrual rates.
However, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in July that the “adopt and amend” strategy breached the state constitution, mandating the original ESTA be implemented.
Steele criticized the court’s decision, suggesting without evidence that it could lead to higher restaurant prices.
“This ruling will wreak havoc on our businesses and their employees,” Steele warned. “We must not treat California like a roadmap for Michigan. We need to learn from their mistakes and stop this before food prices are so high that families can’t afford to go out to eat.”
The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), a right-leaning organization opposing expanded paid sick leave, contributed $500 to Steele’s 2024 campaign, mirroring donations to Desana and Tisdel.
