Uploaded March 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
On Thursday, February 21, 2013, the CAM Labor Program held a 'Right to Work' Breakfast Symposium at the VisTaTech Center in Livonia. Attended by over 230 people, the event was sponsored by the CAM Labor Relations Program, Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, and MUST (Management & Unions Serving Together). The symposium addressed the impact of the 'Freedom to Work' law on union construction.
Michigan has become the 24th state in the union to have a law barring workers with unionized employers from having to pay union dues or a fee. These bills exempt police and fire, however it will impact all other union shops. The law becomes effective in the last week of March 2013.
The panelists included John Tesija, Esq., Partner, Novara Tesija, PC - Labor Counsel; Donald Scharg, Esq., Member, Bodman, PLC - Employer Counsel; Patrick Devlin, Secretery-Treasurer, Michigan Building Trades Council - Building Trades; and was moderated by James Statham, Esq., Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services.
More than 50 signatory contractors and representatives from all 15 building trades unions, seven construction associations, and many employers were in attendance.
Mr. Scharg presented the basic 'nuts & bolts' of the new law, followed by a presentation by Mr. Tesija addressing pension withdrawal liability and Freedom to Work grandfather issues. Mr. Devlin spoke on the legislative process and pointed out some flaws in the law that lawmakers are only now realizing; such as, that unions can unilaterally disclaim an employer's bargaining unit and thereby trigger withdrawal liability upon the Employer. All panelists agreed that the law is not a 'win' for the unions or their signatory contractors. The importance of contractors, unions, and employees working cooperatively to preserve market share was a common concern expressed throughout the morning.
After the presentations, Mr. Statham fielded dozens of questions from the audience. Overall, the event provided a very informative and balanced labor/management forum for the unionized construction industry that should assist bargaining parties as they move into the final weeks of negotiations prior to the effective date of the new law.
For more information, including a PDF of the presentation materials, visit http://cam-online.com, or baker@cam-online.com.
On Thursday, February 21, 2013, the CAM Labor Program held a 'Right to Work' Breakfast Symposium at the VisTaTech Center in Livonia. Attended by over 230 people, the event was sponsored by the CAM Labor Relations Program, Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, and MUST (Management & Unions Serving Together). The symposium addressed the impact of the 'Freedom to Work' law on union construction.
Michigan has become the 24th state in the union to have a law barring workers with unionized employers from having to pay union dues or a fee. These bills exempt police and fire, however it will impact all other union shops. The law becomes effective in the last week of March 2013.
The panelists included John Tesija, Esq., Partner, Novara Tesija, PC - Labor Counsel; Donald Scharg, Esq., Member, Bodman, PLC - Employer Counsel; Patrick Devlin, Secretery-Treasurer, Michigan Building Trades Council - Building Trades; and was moderated by James Statham, Esq., Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services.
More than 50 signatory contractors and representatives from all 15 building trades unions, seven construction associations, and many employers were in attendance.
Mr. Scharg presented the basic 'nuts & bolts' of the new law, followed by a presentation by Mr. Tesija addressing pension withdrawal liability and Freedom to Work grandfather issues. Mr. Devlin spoke on the legislative process and pointed out some flaws in the law that lawmakers are only now realizing; such as, that unions can unilaterally disclaim an employer's bargaining unit and thereby trigger withdrawal liability upon the Employer. All panelists agreed that the law is not a 'win' for the unions or their signatory contractors. The importance of contractors, unions, and employees working cooperatively to preserve market share was a common concern expressed throughout the morning.
After the presentations, Mr. Statham fielded dozens of questions from the audience. Overall, the event provided a very informative and balanced labor/management forum for the unionized construction industry that should assist bargaining parties as they move into the final weeks of negotiations prior to the effective date of the new law.
For more information, including a PDF of the presentation materials, visit http://cam-online.com, or baker@cam-online.com.
