In six press conferences held across the state Monday, House Democrats said they will soon reintroduce their so-called "Hire Michigan First" bills.

Last term in majority, Democrats failed in getting a compromise on the bills with the Republican-controlled Senate and the legislation died in a conference committee. With Republicans, including the governor, now calling for a review of the state's tax incentives for businesses, Democrats are hoping to fold the "Hire Michigan First" proposals into the debate.

Republicans have opposed the legislation's provision that Michigan workers perform all state contracts - the current threshold is 50 percent - because it exempts union workers from the requirement. During floor debate last term, now-House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) said the legislation was looking out for the unions' interest, not the taxpayers'.

The GOP also opposed the bill's provisions requiring businesses to state they will not knowingly or repeatedly violate the state's prevailing wage law. Any time there is more than one technical violation as a result of a third party complaint of the prevailing wage law that is remedied immediately, the consequence is debarment of contractors.

In 2009 testimony before the House Commerce Committee, ABC of Michigan president Chris Fisher criticized the bill for expanding the prevailing wage act. "Unfortunately the wording of this bill does not differentiate between those contractors who knowingly, willingly and continuously violate the prevailing wage act from those contractors who on a single occasion mistakenly classified the wage of an employee and immediately correct the error," said Fisher. 

ABC of Michigan has vowed to work with lawmakers to address the many flaws that continue to plague this anti-business package of bills that only worsens Michigan's business and regulatory climate.

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Michigan Capitol Confidential, a news service from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, posted an article and video on the disingenuous tactics of the Michigan Carpenter's Union and their false claims of 'labor disputes'.  Ken Braun, editor of Michigan Capitol Confidential, provides a step-by-step process of these shameful tactics. 

"As commonly understood, an American labor dispute is a rather simple matter: Employees demanding a change in their pay or working conditions walk off the job and begin to publicly demonstrate against their employer. But the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters is no longer playing by these rules. Since last summer, the union has been organizing demonstrations against an employer that MRCC members do not work for - supposedly on behalf of construction workers that the union does not represent - and using demonstrators who are not employees of the company being targeted. Indeed, the demonstrators are frequently not MRCC members either, nor even construction workers at all."

The Carpenters Union has been targeting ABC member firms using tactics that include hiring homeless people to picket, staging phony labor disputes, and engaging in the most bizarre and disingenuous campaigns in Michigan history.

The article specifically follows the tactics used against Ritesma and Associates in Grand Rapids, but similar tactics have been seen in at least three ABC chapters in our state, as well as in a handful of other states. To view the full article and a video regarding this story, visit Michigan Capitol Confidential.

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The ABC of Michigan 2011 Legislative Conference registration brochure is now available online!  Your copy will arrive in your office next week, but you can be the first to register for the exclusive ABC of Michigan event of the year.  Register NOW to take advantage of the Early Bird discount.

The ABC of Michigan 2011 Legislative Conference is an event specifically designed to get ABC members engaged with legislative issues important to their businesses here in Michigan.  The 2011 Legislative Conference is your chance to meet with your local lawmakers to discuss anti-competitive project labor agreements, Michigan's prevailing wage law, and the Michigan Business Tax.

This is an event you can't afford to miss! 

Just announced - Headlining speakers confirmed!

Confirmed speakers this year include:  Speaker of the House of Representatives James 'Jase' Bolger and Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor of the Detroit News.

This is the ABC of Michigan event of the year - don't miss it.  Register today at www.abcmi.com!

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