Negotiations

State law currently forces local governments in tough negotiations with public safety employee unions to submit to binding arbitration in the event the two forces cannot agree on contract specifications. But lawmakers have introduced legislation that will eliminate that law and officials in Shelby Township have unanimously passed a resolution supporting the legislation, reports the [...]

DETROIT — Rev. Jesse Jackson this week called for “mass action” to address the state’s foreclosure crisis and said that his civil rights non-profit organization, the Rainbow Push Coalition, is pressuring major mortgage lenders including Wells Fargo, Citibank and Bank of America to restructure homeowner’s loans to help avert foreclosures.
Jackson said the government’s efforts to [...]

LANSING — Expect a long night at the State Capitol. Just as state budget negotiations continue in advance of an Oct. 1 deadline, multiple sources in the House are telling Michigan Messenger the current budget session could run as late as 3 a.m., while Senate sources say that body will be in session until about midnight.

Although it appears that a new  UAW-Chrysler national agreement is on its way to being approved, deep fissures were exposed during the ratification process among union local leaders and the rank and file. For the UAW, one of the serious issues is the difference in perspective and outlook between younger and older workers.

LaNita Gaines, financial secretary-treasurer [...]

While the “no” vote movement made significant head way, thus far 56% of UAW workers nationwide have voted to approve the national labor contract hammered out between Chrysler and the UAW bargaining team. This margin of support is increasing the likelihood the deal will be ratified.

Union leadership are cajoling reluctant local leaders to accept the [...]