Ron Bieber, President of the Michigan AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the restoration of collective bargaining rights for home health care workers in the state. He also discussed battling child labor violations in the state and how Ohio’s State Issue 1 is similar to Michigan's first step to repeal so-called “Right-to-Work” laws.
Recently, a law passed through Michigan’s legislature and signed into law by the Gov. returned the right for home health care workers to bargain collectively. Michigan Senate Bills 790 and 791 will restore collective bargaining rights, establish a Home Help Caregiver Council and enhance workforce infrastructure. Bieber discussed the safety risks home health care workers face on the job and the low wages they have received since their right to organize was stripped away in 2012. Now, nearly 35,000 home health care workers across Michigan are organizing together as Michigan Home Care Workers United (MIHCWU), an affiliate Local of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare division.
While several other states are trying to weaken child labor laws, Michigan lawmakers have attempted to go the other way. Bieber said there is proposed legislation to increase the penalties for companies caught violating child labor laws. He discussed the details of the bills in the state Senate and his hopes for the legislation to pass.
Earlier this year, Michigan repealed the state’s so-called “Right-to-Work” law. Bieber said this came following a successful ballot initiative that removed redistricting control from the state lawmakers and established a bipartisan redistricting committee in Michigan. Bieber discussed how 2018’s redistricting amendment helped to end the state's so-called “Right-to-Work” laws. He likened their first step to what Ohio’s Citizen Not Politicians group is attempting to accomplish with Issue 1.
For more from Bieber, listen to the show above.