“Right To Work” Subject Of Oral Arguments

The Michigan Supreme Court took oral arguments Tuesday on whether 50,000 state government civil servants are subject to the state’s Right to Work law.

The employee unions claim that the state constitution gives the power to the Civil Service Commission to set conditions of employment and therefore Right To Work can’t be imposed on state workers.

Attorney Andrew Nicholoff argues to give lawmakers that power would open the door to the spoils system in state government hiring.

Former Civil Service Commissioner Peter Ellsworth counters that there are limits on Civil Service’s authority when it comes to conditions of employment and lawmakers can impose right to work.

A lawyer for the free-market, conservative Mackinac Center For Public Policy contends this is all about allowing workers to have a choice on paying union dues. But Mel Grieshaber , Executive Director of Michigan Corrections Organization, contends workers had to right to opt out of union dues before Right To Work.

There’s no indication on when the high court will rule on the issue.