Michigan Senate passes public sector right-to-work repeal; Whitmer to sign

The Michigan Senate on Tuesday approved a right-to-work repeal bill in a party-line vote. House Bill 4004, a repeal of Michigan’s right-to-work law in the public sector, will headed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk, and she is expected to sign it.

Last week, the Michigan House approved two repeal bills, 4004 and its private sector equivalent, House Bill 4005, in a single day, from committee to the full House. Tuesday the Senate did the same. Records show that the Committee of the Whole approved House Bill 4004 in the morning, and the full Senate voted in the afternoon.

The vote went 20-17, straight down party lines. One Senate Republican, Roger Victory, was absent. The full roll-call vote went as follows, courtesy Michigan Senate Journal 26 of 2023:

House Bill 4004 is likely to face a constitutional challenge, as it contradicts the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Janus vs. AFSCME, which found that public sector workers, such as teachers and state employees, cannot be compelled to join unions.

Senate Journal 26 shows no action on House Bill 4005 Tuesday. It’s still waiting for action in the Senate Labor Committee. The House passed it last week.