ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan State Senate yesterday passed two measures to make it easier for workers to unionize and ensure that workers on state projects are paid a fair wage. The first measure overturns the state’s “right-to-work” law, which hinders the ability of workers to unionize. The second measure reinstates prevailing wage requirements for construction workers on state-funded projects. The two bills passed the Michigan House of Representatives last week and will now be sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk to be signed into law.

In response to the votes, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Michigan Regional Program Manager Frank Houston:

“We applaud the passage of these bills and the important step toward a pro-worker future for our state. The so-called ‘right-to-work’ law was never right for Michigan and Michigan’s workers. The reinstatement of prevailing wage will once again help ensure that workers on our state-funded projects will be paid a fair wage. We urge Gov. Whitmer to sign these bills into law quickly.”