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Legislative Priorities-Protecting Employer Rights in the Workplace
ISSUE: Preventing Unwarranted Government Intervention
in the Workplace
CHAMBER MEMBERS ADVOCATE:
Federal -
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Retaining the right to a secret ballot election in the
choice of union representation and current National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) enforcement provisions, while opposing the implementation of
mandatory arbitration of collective bargaining agreements.
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Opposing Congressional efforts to expand application of
the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and efforts to require paid leave.
State -
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Ensuring the financial stability, accountability and
solvency of the state’s unemployment compensation trust fund while opposing
efforts to increase the current level of unemployment insurance benefits
(UI) unless offset by significant cost savings reforms.
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Requiring comprehensive payment, assessment, and timely
appellate processes for unemployment insurance taxpayers.
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Supporting voluntary and cooperative efforts between labor
and management to promote safety in the workplace, while opposing mandatory
ergonomics standards.
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Opposing efforts to burden employers with new or expanded
leave mandates.
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Supporting Michigan’s doctrine of employment-at-will by
protecting employers’ rights to direct, manage, compensate and communicate
with their workforce in an efficient and productive manner without
governmental interference.
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Retaining the current minimum wage law, and opposing any
efforts to automatically link future minimum wage increases to the rate of
inflation or increase the wage for tipped employees.
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Opposing an increase in workers’ compensation benefits and
efforts to shift the cost of operating the Bureau of Workers’ Disability
Compensation to employers.
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Opposing any state efforts to reverse the U.S. Department
of Labor’s 2004 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime regulations.
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Opposing expansion of the Persons with Disabilities Civil
Rights Act.
WHY?
In today's volatile economy, it is the Michigan Chamber’s
position that fair and affordable employment laws, including unemployment and
workers’ compensation programs, are more important than ever. In 2007, Michigan
employers paid out over $1.8 billion in unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and
nearly $1.5 billion in workers’ compensation benefits. One hundred percent of
these benefits are financed by employers; therefore, any reforms to the UI or
workers’ compensation systems should balance the needs of the employees and
employers. Furthermore, employees should have the right to choose freely and
anonymously whether to unionize and employers should not be required to
arbitrate the terms and conditions of employment. Finally, employers should have
the flexibility to manage their workforce and employees’ needs—with limited
governmental involvement or regulation that allows Michigan to be attractive,
competitive and a better place to do business.
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