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Anti-union survey aimed squarely at trades

Date Posted: July 11 2008

The Michigan Right to Work Committee, Steve Forbes and Republican Rep. Jacob Hoogendyk aren't the only ones filling mailboxes with anti-union literature these days. (See the above article).

Bruce Hawley of Iron Workers Local 340, a candidate for state representative, reports that he's been receiving all manner of questionnaires from a variety of special interest groups. One came from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan Political Action Committee.

The "questionnaire" from the anti-union ABC reads like a position paper on their issues. They state their position, and then ask the candidate to check off whether or not they support, oppose or are unsure of their position.

The issues brought up by the ABC in the survey are near and dear to the state's building trades unions: they propose ending union-only project labor agreements, killing "responsible contracting" rules that provide a contractor hiring guidelines for public hiring, repealing right to work and prevailing wage rules, and opposing union-friendly "card check" voting rules during union organizing campaigns.

"You hope these surveys are going into the recycling bin" said Patrick Devlin, CEO of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. "But you never know, and that's why it's important for building trades union leaders and members to stay in contact with our lawmakers, and let them know where we stand on these issues."