Skip to main content

Challenges Filed To Oppose Michigan's Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Ballot Measures


Last Friday, two Michigan business groups filed challenges with the Secretary of State in an effort to oppose ballot measures that would raise the state's minimum wage rate and mandate paid sick leave.  At this point, irrespective of these challenges made to the ballot measures, voters in the state appear likely to be able to vote on the matters this November.  (However, the State Elections Bureau is currently conducting a review of the petitions and will present a recommendation later this month on the viability of either ballot measure making it before voters in November).


Minimum Wage Ballot Measure

A hospitality industry group, Michigan Opportunity, is opposing efforts by Michigan One Fair Wage committee to raise the state's minimum wage rate from $9.25/hour up to $12/hour by 2022.  Increased after 2022 would be tied to inflation.  Taking it one step further, this ballot initiative would phase out the tipped minimum wage rate by 2024.

One Fair Wage obtained over 370,000 signatures to get the minimum wage ballot measure before voters in November.  (The Board of State Canvassers in Michigan must certify at least 252,523 signatures for a measure to be placed on the ballot).


 Paid Sick Leave Ballot Measure

Small Business for a Better Michigan is the other business group which has joined the fray and is attempting to sideline the paid sick leave proposal.  The proposal, as currently written, would guarantee employees at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

Time to Care, which supports the paid sick leave measure, obtained more than 380,000 signatures.  (As with the minimum wage ballot measure, the paid sick leave proposal requires at least 252,523 signatures to be placed on the November ballot).


As for the challenges alleged last week, let us take a closer look.  The basis for the opposition centers upon several claims:  The ballot measures sidestep the state's Constitution, improperly capitalized words, and contained fraudulent signatures (to actually get the measures on the ballot).  At this time, it is still far too early to tell if either challenge will keep one or both ballot measures off the November ballot.  This is one to keep a close eye on going forward.



For additional information:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/07/16/group-kill-ballot-proposal-minimum-wage-michigan/783726002/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

San Diego Rolls Back Vaccine Mandate For City Workers

Last Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted to do away with the vaccine mandate for city employees. The city’s vaccine mandate that was in place required city workers to get the coronavirus vaccine or risk termination.  Perhaps to this surprise of no one, the city’s policy came under fire with 14 employees being terminated and over 100 other employees resigning.  With the coronavirus subsiding, including in Southern California, the San Diego City Council took action. Now, bear in mind, the repeal of the vaccine mandate does not take place immediately. With that being said, the mandate will be repealed March 8th.  I suppose the question now is, what other cities or regions follow San Diego’s lead? For additional information:   https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2023-01-24/san-diego-repeals-controversial-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-citing-drop-in-cases-hospitalizations
Post a Comment
Read more