Labor
Whitmer wants to close ‘skills gap,’ but some experts call it ‘a lie’
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been vocal about wanting to “close the damn skills gap.” The Democratic governor tends to use the line almost immediately after her signature campaign slogan of “fixing the damn roads.” Since taking office, Whitmer has overhauled the existing state workforce development department and advocated for more K-12 and community college funding […]
Michigan AFL-CIO backs LGBTQ rights push in local governments
Updated, 12:03 p.m. 6/29/19 with additional communities that passed measures One of the state’s largest labor unions has encouraged local governments to formally recognize Pride Month during June. The Michigan AFL-CIO said in a statement that it backed efforts in almost two dozen communities around the state to pass resolutions or sign proclamations officially declaring […]
Levin, Slotkin, Tlaib say USMCA must be rebooted
Three members of Michigan’s congressional delegation are among the signatories to a letter urging the rewrite of a North American trade agreement. Freshmen U.S. Reps. Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Twp.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) joined more than two dozen of their freshman colleagues in pushing U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to reopen negotiations […]
Peters wants national manufacturing policy
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) says he has a plan to boost American manufacturing. The first-term senator — who’s now facing a challenge from Republican businessman John James — this week announced plans to establish what he’s calling a National Institute of Manufacturing. Doing so would help the country craft a national policy around […]
1.5M Michigan workers would benefit from $15 minimum wage bill teed up in U.S. House
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House is poised to pass landmark legislation that would hike the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and could substantially increase pay for 1.5 million Michiganders. The legislation is co-sponsored by all seven Democratic members of Michigan’s delegation. However, the effort faces steep hurdles in the GOP-controlled U.S. Senate. House […]
Inman attorney pushes for dismissal of charges
The attorney for embattled state Rep. Larry Inman (R-Williamsburg) has filed for federal charges against his client to be dismissed. The Northern Michigan lawmaker was indicted by a federal grand jury in May on allegations that he attempted to solicit a bribe for himself and other unidentified lawmakers in exchange for voting against prevailing wage […]
Stevens trumpets legislation shoring up union pension funds
Freshman U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Rochester) heard a lot of worries about pensions last year on the campaign trail. That’s why she couldn’t have been happier on Wednesday, the day after the House Education and Labor Committee passed House Resolution 397. Stevens is one of 173 bipartisan co-sponsors of the measure, known as the “Butch […]
AFL-CIO president hosts NAFTA town halls in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania
The president of the nation’s largest labor union announced Tuesday that he will hold a series of town halls about “union members’ struggles under NAFTA, and what working people want to see from the administration’s proposed USMCA [United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement].” The AFL-CIO’s Richard Trumka will travel to Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan over the course of […]
Dingell wants ‘certainty’ for workers, businesses, before USMCA vote
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) wants to see more “accountability” for Mexico in the Trump administration’s proposed reboot of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Speaking with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on Sunday, Dingell said she and her Democratic colleagues remain concerned about the lack of teeth in the proposed U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)’s labor […]
Rick Haglund: Below the surface, Michigan’s economy has serious flaws
Let’s start with some good news: Michigan has the 13th best economy in the country, far surpassing the performance of surrounding Great Lakes states, according to a new report. The study released Monday by online financial service WalletHub found Michigan leads Wisconsin (23rd), Indiana (28th), Illinois (33rd) and Ohio (36th), based on 28 key indicators. […]
Warren stumps for new ‘economic patriotism’ plan in Detroit, Lansing
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) appeared in Detroit and Lansing Tuesday as part of a presidential campaign swing through the Midwest in which she unveiled ambitious new plans to overhaul the nation’s economy — and attempt to save the planet from climate change in the process. As part of her plan for what she calls […]
Whitmer, LGBTQ caucus make big push to win GOP support for Elliott-Larsen bill
Updated 2:56 p.m., 4:57 p.m. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appeared alongside members of the Legislature’s LGBTQ Caucus in her office at the Capitol Tuesday to announce legislation that would amend the state’s civil rights act to protect LGBTQ individuals under the law. State Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) and state Rep. Jon Hoadley (D-Kalamazoo) will introduce bills […]