LANSING -- Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has signed right-to-work legislation less than a week after he asked the legislature to move the bills through both chambers.
Michigan, long known as a union stronghold, is now the 24th right-to-work state.
The measure bars unions from collecting mandatory dues as a condition of employment. Workers can now choose whether to join a union.
Gov. Snyder signed the bills late Tuesday afternoon, hours after the state House passed the measures as thousands of angry pro-union protesters – including dozens of UAW workers from Flint – filled the Capitol rotunda and demonstrated outside.
Union supporters insist the legislation will curb their powers, lower wages and hurt the economy. Republicans, who control both the Senate and House, say the bills will attract more employers to the state and give workers the freedom to choose who they associate with.
The law will take effect 90 days after the end of this legislative session, but it's expected that unions will challenge the law in court.
