Stop the movement to crush labor unions

Fifth in a series on the ballot proposals on Michigan’s November 6, 2012 ballot. Read them all HERE.

I have written about Proposal 2 since it was first conceived under the banner of “Protect Our Jobs”. It later was renamed “Protect Working Families” in recognition of the fact that supporting the right of our labor brothers and sisters to bargain collectively for better wages, benefits and working conditions benefits ALL working families in our state.

Details on why you should VOTE YES! ON PROPOSAL 2 AND PROTECT WORKING FAMILIES after the jump.

Collective bargaining helps ALL workers and anti-labor forces know & fear that

The anti-labor, pro-business group Protecting Michigan Taxpayers has a television ad out now that may be the most egregious, lie-filled, dishonest political ad on Michigan televisions at the moment.

The ad is designed to make Proposal 2, a ballot initiative to protect collective bargaining rights in our state, look like it will endanger children rather than giving our teachers the right to bargain for smaller class sizes, living wages, health care, and retirement benefits.

Almost every day, you see someone on the right accusing groups on the left of using scare tactics. And yet, this ad is the most shameless effort to frighten voters that you’re likely to see this election cycle. They even use the words “dangerous”, “terrifying”, and “risk”.

The ad and much more after the jump.

Hmmm…

UPDATED: I was unaware that a “No” vote on the repeal of Public Act 4 means that the law will NOT go back into effect. “No” is the desirable vote. I have edited accordingly. My apology for the error.

In what will be a huge disappointment to many progressives across Michigan, Democrats chose not to support a key ballot initiative at their convention this weekend. They will not be supporting the initiative to require 25% of our energy to be from renewable sources by 2025 (Proposal 3) but will be supporting the repeal of Public Act 4.

Details after the jump.

I’ll just sleep in mid-November…

Anne and I arrived home from the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC at about 11:30 p.m. Friday night. The next morning I was on the road at 6:30 a.m. to the Michigan Democratic Party’s State Convention which took place over two days this weekend at the Lansing Center in Lansing. Like me, there were a LOT of faded looking people there but, despite their weariness, Day One of the convention was a huge success; well-attended and with high energy.

Details with photos after the jump.

Together, united, we cannot be defeated

In a very encouraging victory for working Michiganders, the Supreme Court today ruled that the Protect Our Jobs/Protect Working Families ballot proposal to give constitutional protection to collective bargaining rights WILL appear on the November ballot.

Details and links to the six proposals that Michiganders will vote on in November after the jump.

We’re all in this together

We Are the People Michigan is asking for volunteers for the Labor Day parade in Detroit. This is part of the effort to make sure the Protect Our Jobs ballot proposal passes in November and secures the right to collectively bargain in our state constitution.

If you are available, this is guaranteed to be a truly fun and rewarding day. You’ll meet amazing organizers, activists and passionate folks from the labor movement while you help make sure that the drive to crush our unions is stopped.

Details on how you can get involved in this fun and important effort after the jump.

When protective bargaining wins, we ALL win

The Protect Our Jobs coalition, also known as Protect Working Families, is working to pass a ballot initiative that would put protections for collective bargaining in the state constitution. This group just released a new television ad that shows how collective bargaining helped save that domestic auto industry in America.

See the ad after the jump.

It’s time to get this done

Now that the ballot initiative to make collective bargaining rights part of the state constitution has been ordered placed on the November ballot, it’s time for Democrats around the state to make sure it passes handily. As part of that effort, the Protect Working Families (formerly Protect Our Jobs) alliance is conducting forums across the state to ensure people are educated and engaged in making that happen.

This Thursday, August 30, 2012 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Second Baptist Church, 850 Red Oak Road, one such forum is being held in Washtenaw County.

Details after the jump.

Score one for the good guys

The Michigan Court of Appeals has once again ordered the Republicans on the Board of State Canvassers to halt their efforts to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Michigan voters and directed them to place the Protect Working Families, formerly Protect Our Jobs, ballot initiative on the November ballot.

This marks the second time the Court of Appeals has done this after ordering the elections board to put the repeal of Public Act 4, the Emergency Manager Law, on the ballot as well. Opponents of that took their fight to the Supreme Court where they ultimately lost.

More after the jump.

Like we didn’t see THAT coming…

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers today deadlocked on putting the Protect Working Families (formerly Protect Our Jobs) ballot initiative on the November ballot. With help from Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette who recently issued a ruling saying the ballot proposal is unconstitutional, the two Republicans on the elections board refused to certify the petitions.

Details and information on how you can help after the jump.

When union families win, we ALL win

The Protect Our Jobs ballot proposal has gathered enough petition signatures to be placed on the November ballot and awaits approval by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers. The measure will enshrine collective bargaining rights in the state Constitution, ensuring that anti-Labor forces won’t be able to deny Michigan workers their legal right to bargain for better wages and benefits.

The organizers of the effort have shifted their emphasis from “Protect Our Jobs” to “Protect Working Families”, a more descriptive title for what they are trying to accomplish.