Detroit News: on Jobs

Mark Schauer: Opposes right-to-work law; protested on Capitol lawn

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer has signaled he will use Snyder's signing of the right-to-work law and the plight of Detroit pensioners to paint the governor as a friend of big banks and unconcerned about working-class people. Schauer said, "The public has figured out he's just another political figure trying to satisfy his political friends." Schauer was among the labor activists pepper-sprayed by police during a Capitol lawn demonstration as lawmakers were passing the right-to-work bill.

Rick Snyder: Quietly signed law making Michigan a right-to-work state

When Snyder backed the law making workplace union membership optional after long saying the contentious issue was not on his agenda, it reshaped his persona as an apolitical chief executive focused on fixing the state's problems. But the Republican governor's supporters say the fervor of right-to-work was overblown by Democrats and their union allies who stand to lose the most from a prohibition of compulsory union dues.

The law went into effect on March 28, so it is too early to calculate its effect on statistics for union membership statewide and dues collections by Michigan unions. But it has reinvigorated labor and Democratic opposition to Snyder. The Snyder administration has argued the governor is staying focused on creating an environment for more and better jobs.

Rocky Raczkowski: Let market set minimum wage