Policy Research

Views on Right to Work Legislation Among Michigans Local Government Leaders

Thomas Ivacko, Debra Horner

Summary

The authors surveyed local government leaders in 2013 surveys administered through the Michigan Public Policy Surveys. The surveys found that 47% of local government leaders supported the right to work law, and 22% opposed it, and the final third were neutral. Support and opposition was largely on Republican and Democratic lines, with 60% of local republican leaders supporting it, and 53% of local Democrat leaders opposing. Police and fire exemptions are more split, with 26% supporting the exemptions and 33% opposing them. Regardless of party, local leaders from jurisdictions with public sector unions were much less likely to support right to work laws. Finally, most local leaders expected limited economic impacts from the laws.

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Policy Implications

Right to work laws remain divisive and widely tied to partisan positions. Interestingly, local elected officials, even republicans, who regularly interacted with local labor unions did not have a desire to see said unions removed from power and influence in their communities. This narrative is important for those seeking to stop the encroachment of right to work laws throughout the United States.