Labor
Exclusive: Weingarten fires back at DeVos, says we ‘wouldn’t even need 1 of your yachts’ to raise teacher pay
Updated, 2:30 p.m., with comments from DeVos’ office. U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Monday blasted the head of a teachers union for her salary, which tops $500,000 annually, but Randi Weingarten hit back in an exclusive interview with the Michigan Advance. “Great teachers… perhaps should be making at least half of what [American Federation […]
Union: New MSU grad student contract offers raise, helps international employees
One month after criticizing Michigan State University for “negligence and apathy” during contract negotiations, the union representing its graduate school employees has announced a tentative agreement with the institution. In a statement on Monday afternoon, the Graduate Employees Union (GEU) said it signed an agreement late last week with the university that, if ratified, would […]
Whitmer selects U of M prof to lead unemployment agency
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Monday morning that she was appointing Steve Gray, a University of Michigan law professor, as the head of the state’s embattled Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). Gray has been a leading advocate for those falsely accused of unemployment fraud under the administration of former Gov. Rick Snyder. Gray founded the University of […]
Beaumont Royal Oak nurses launch union effort
Nurses at Beaumont Health’s Royal Oak hospital have launched a unionization effort, according to the organizing union, the Michigan Nurses Association. Nurses at the hospital, just north of Detroit, cite other recent, successful union efforts by health care professionals at Michigan hospitals, such as Munson Health in Traverse City and the Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, part […]
Labor leaders hope new West Michigan facility spurs membership
The Monday grand opening of a $15 million training facility in West Michigan for unionized tradespeople comes at a tough time for labor in Michigan. But labor leaders and Democratic officials are hopeful that the new 67,000-square foot training facility in Wayland, south of Grand Rapids, could serve as a beacon for rejuvenating organized labor’s […]
Lisa Canada: Lawmakers should act quickly to stop payroll, tax fraud hurting workers
The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights represents more than 14,000 men and women who build our state from the ground up. From the bridges we drive across, to the schools, hospitals and factories we depend upon, our members work hard for good, Michigan contractors and build the infrastructure our state needs. But not […]
Pence to talk NAFTA replacement in Southeast Michigan Wednesday
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will visit Michigan on Wednesday to push a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) replacement plan, according to his office. Pence is set to speak at an event in Romulus for President Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign and then tour a Dearborn Ford Motor Co truck plant. Afterward, he will […]
AG plans clampdown on ‘payroll fraud’
Updated, 3:58 p.m. and 5:01 p.m. with comments from Charles Owens and legislative Republicans. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Democratic legislators want to crack down on businesses that misclassify workers in an effort to dodge paying payroll taxes, overtime and other benefits. Such practices cost Michigan workers about $429 million in lost wages between […]
Breaking: Presidential hopeful Tim Ryan coming to Grand Rapids
Another presidential contender is heading to Michigan, with U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) slated to headline a Kent County Democrats’ fundraiser next month. Ryan was announced as the keynote speaker for the 2019 Spring Gala on May 4 before he declared for president, county party Chair Gary Stark told the Advance on Thursday. “He’s always […]
Bipartisan lawmakers sponsor Whitmer scholarship, skills training programs
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appeared alongside more than a dozen representatives of business, labor, and education organizations, as well as legislators from both parties, at Lansing Community College on Thursday to voice their support for legislation aimed at bolstering the state’s workforce. Senate Bills 267 and 268, along with their corresponding House Bills 4464 and 4456, […]
MSU grad student union says new contract hurts foreign students
Michigan State University’s graduate student employee union is crying foul over the university’s rejection of its latest contract re-negotiation, which it says will negatively impact international employees. Members of the union filled an MSU building lobby Thursday to grade papers in protest of the latest contract and the university nixing several union proposals. Those would […]
Ojeda is looking for ‘Real Democrats’ in Michigan — and across the country
Richard Ojeda is angry. Actually, he’s “pissed off,” and he thinks you should be, too. The retired Army major and former West Virginia state senator — as well as, for a fleeting moment, Democratic presidential candidate — is in Grand Rapids this week to headline the Democratic counter-programming to President Donald Trump’s rally Thursday. And […]