the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Dec 9, 2013
Unionized state employees in Michigan have mobilized to express outrage at the governor’s plans to decimate health insurance. The state’s proposed new plan for ALL employees would “offer” worse health insurance coverage than “new hires” have right now under Two Tier.
Unionized state employees in Michigan have no legal right to strike. Under arcane rules, when unions and management can’t agree about the contract, workers get no vote. A body called the Civil Service Commission—appointed 100 percent by management—will dictate the final union contract.
To have an impact, workers must “vote with their feet” and take action.
The following are reprinted from The Spark newsletter at State of Michigan:
Three State of Michigan pension fund administrators just got 88% raises! Are they serious? Everyone who works for the State is now doing the job of 2 or 3 people and working harder than ever. All deserve an 88% raise!
A spokesman for the State of Michigan said on the radio that the state is offering union workers a “generous” pay increase. By generous, do they mean the 88% raise top Treasury officials just received?!
No, they mean a 2% raise one year and a 1% raise the next. What a joke! This does NOT keep up with inflation, does NOT offset the years with no raises, and does NOT offset thousands of dollars in new healthcare costs.
The protest in Lansing on November 13 was fun. State workers and retirees enjoyed the chance to speak out. The fight is not over. The governor’s proposed cuts are still on the table. The Civil Service Commission meets again on December 18 to vote on cuts to state workers.
The Michigan Coalition of State Employee Unions has planned the next protest for Detroit on Monday, December 16 from noon to 1 p.m. Location: 3044 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit—the Cadillac Place State Office Building. Invite worker friends, city workers, retirees—everyone who is under attack by Governor Snyder can come and speak out.