The contract that allows the Service Employees International Union to take money from home-based caregivers has a date for which it will finally end.
On Monday, the newly constituted Michigan Quality Community Care Council (MQC3) board affirmed that the contract upon which the SEIU "Dues Skim" is based will end Feb. 28, 2013. The board further announced that the MQC3 would officially be dissolved as of April 14, 2013.
"Finally, an end to the skim is in sight," said Patrick Wright, senior legal analyst for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. "We are still trying to get the caregivers some of their money back. However, at least we now have an actual date upon which the dues payments will stop."
In 2005, the SEIU perpetrated a forced unionization of Michigan's home-based caregivers. Beginning the following year, dues started being taken from the Medicaid checks of the caregivers and sent to the union. The scheme has enriched SEIU coffers by more than $33 million. A running tally is ongoing with the Michigan Capitol Confidential “Skim Tracker.”
The MQC3 was the dummy employer the SEIU used to facilitate its forced unionization of home-based caregivers. In reality, the entity was an extension of the SEIU that did the union's bidding. However, in the final days leading up to the Nov. 6 election, Gov. Rick Snyder replaced the union-friendly board with his own appointees.
Last April, behind closed doors, the union and the former MQC3 board extended the union's contract through February 2013. Had it not been for that extension the "skim" might well have ended by now. By replacing its board, Gov. Snyder took control of the MQC3 away from the SEIU.
Once control of the MQC3 changed hands, the union's last hope was the approval of Proposal 4, which would have locked the forced unionization in the state constitution. Voters soundly rejected Proposal 4 by a margin of 56 percent against to 44 percent in favor.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
Dues-skim union has no bargaining power for home care providers
Michigan House approves bills to resurrect dues skim for home health care providers
December 14, 2012, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call
Note: Due to lengthy House and Senate sessions, some votes from this week will be included in the next Roll Call Report.
Senate Bill 116, Make Michigan a "right-to-work" state: Passed 58 to 52 in the House
To prohibit employers from enforcing a union contract provision that compels workers to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment. The bill also includes a $1 million appropriation to make it "referendum-proof." All Democrats voted "no" and all Republicans voted "yes" except for Reps. Forlini, Goike, Horn, McBroom, Somerville and Zorn. This vote sent the bill to the Governor to sign, which he did the same day.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4003, Extend "right-to-work" law to government and school employees: Passed 58 to 51 in the House
To prohibit Michigan governments and schools from enforcing a union contract provision that compels employees to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment, except for police and firefighters, who could still be dismissed for failing to pay union dues or fees. This vote sent the bill to the Governor to sign, which he did the same day.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 865, Replace repealed "Emergency Manager" law: Passed 63 to 46 in the House
To replace the Emergency Manager law passed in 2011 and repealed by a statewide referendum with a new law, which will give fiscally-failed cities or school districts a choice of either entering a reform plan consent agreement with the state, entering mediation to create such a plan, being allowed to declare bankruptcy in federal court, or having an emergency manager appointed with powers similar to those that triggered the union-sponsored referendum (to invalidate unaffordable or unsustainable government union contract provisions). The replacement also adds a public information meeting requirement to the process; specifies procedures and conditions for exiting the financial emergency; explicitly gives a school EM authority over academic matters; and contains a modest appropriation that makes it "referendum-proof."
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 5711, Impose more abortion facility regulations: Passed 27 to 10 in the Senate
To impose more rigorous state regulations on abortion clinics, including expanded licensure and inspection regimes. Also, to require abortion providers to screen women to ensure they are not being intimidated into having an abortion; prohibit "telemedicine" remote doctor exams to prescribe "morning after pill" abortions; establish that the remains of an aborted fetus are subject to the same laws that apply to the disposition of dead bodies of humans who have been born; and more.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 6024, Authorize “essential services” tax on industrial plants: Passed 23 to 14 in the Senate
To give local governments the power to impose targeted property taxes on industrial and commercial property deemed by the bill to be “especially benefited” by fire, police and ambulance services. This would replace some of the revenue from proposed reductions in the property tax imposed on business tools and equipment ("personal property tax").
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit https://www.michiganvotes.org.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
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