Business + Labor
Whitmer orders Michigan overtime pay rule exceeding Trump admin measure
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday directed her Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to write a rule that would go beyond a Trump administration measure that would expand overtime eligibility to employees earning up to $35,568 a year. “In America, hard work should be recognized and rewarded. When I was growing up, that meant you […]
Column: Even when they aren’t fired for being pregnant or gay, teachers face strict moral demands
Pregnant teachers in classrooms are routine these days. But the law didn’t always protect expectant women in any workplace. As part of her stump speech, Sen. Elizabeth Warren tells a story about being fired from her job as a speech pathologist for special needs children once she became pregnant back in 1971. Sharing this chapter […]
Bills aim to bring solar energy to more Michiganders
A group of lawmakers have announced bipartisan legislation geared at making it easier for Michigan residents to invest in solar. The bills, collectively called the “Powering Michigan Forward” package, were introduced at the state Capitol on Tuesday by state Sens. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte), Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), and state Reps. Gregory […]
Wayne State to offer free tuition for Detroit students, residents
Wayne State University (WSU) on Wednesday announced an ambitious plan to provide free tuition for Detroit high school graduates. The student must have a high school diploma and be admitted to the university as a full-time freshman in fall 2020. Called the Heart of Detroit Tuition Pledge, the initiative could potentially provide free tuition to […]
GOP leaders, anti-gerrymandering group meet on expanding term limits
A group of Republican leaders, business groups and activists that took on gerrymandering in Michigan have held recent talks aimed at tackling term limits and broader government reform. Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) and House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) are working with Voters Not Politicians (VNP) and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce to […]
Michigan sees smaller salary growth than neighboring states
A decade removed from the Great Recession, Michigan’s growth in earnings still lags that of its neighbors, according to a new analysis. Michigan ranks No. 39 out of 50 states in a 2019 U.S. Earnings Index, putting it behind its Midwestern neighbors and multiple other states, as it experienced a relatively smaller increase in salary […]
Nessel joins Facebook antitrust probe
State Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined dozens of other attorneys general from around the country in seeking to build an antitrust case against Facebook. The probe into whether the California-based social media giant has become a monopoly and stifled competition began weeks ago under New York Attorney General Letitia James. It now includes almost […]
Whitmer administration rolls out clean energy initiative
As Michigan works to transition toward clean energy, state officials have a new initiative aimed at navigating that path. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), the state’s regulatory authority for utilities, last week established the MI Power Grid initiative to educate the public on the changes in the energy industry and […]
Michigan Air National Guard employees join AFGE
In a vote certified on Oct. 4, Michigan Air National Guard workers chose the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) to become their exclusive labor representative, the union announced Tuesday. The election was held after the Federal Labor Relations Authority in May ordered a new union election for employees in the Michigan Air National Guard. […]
Heated mayoral race busts through East Grand Rapids ‘bubble’
Drive through the Kent County suburb of East Grand Rapids and you’ll find a mix of new and old mansions and well-kept middle-class homes. The city of about 12,000 people has a small downtown with upscale retail shops and restaurants and other services, along with Reeds Lake on the outskirts. The city boasts a median […]
Rick Haglund: UAW-GM deal will likely boost workers, economy
President Donald Trump could take a lesson in the art of the deal from the United Auto Workers and General Motors Co. A tentative four-year contract between the UAW and GM appears to be a big financial win for workers while giving the automaker the flexibility it needs to profitably navigate what are likely to […]
Johnson & Johnson to pay Michigan $3.2M in another settlement
Michigan will see more than $3.2 million as the result of another multi-state settlement tied to the deceptive marketing of medical devices. Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Thursday that Michigan will share in $116.9 million with 41 other states and the District of Columbia as part of a settlement with manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and […]