LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In the tug of war between Republicans and Democrats in Michigan over labor law, the GOP has made its next move.

State Sen. Roger Hauck (R-Mt. Pleasant) introduced Senate Bill 437 that would restore Michigan’s right-to-work law. Meanwhile, State Sen. John Damoose, (R-Harbor Springs) introduced Senate Bill 438 which would repeal prevailing wage requirements for public utility projects.

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In March 2023 when the Democrats controlled the House, Senate and also held the governor’s office, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation that enacted the prevailing wage law and repealed the state’s right-to-work law, which was originally passed in 2012.

Prevailing wages are minimum pay set by the Department of Labor and is often times based on higher union-negotiated rates. Right-to-work laws make it so employees don’t have to support a labor union as a condition of employment.

“We certainly need to look at ways to make Michigan a more attractive state for businesses and various industries — and I don’t mean offering taxpayer-funded handouts to come here,” Hauck said in a press release. “Michigan is losing economic opportunities — we’re currently sitting at 49th in the nation for unemployment, other states are poaching our workers, and businesses are bypassing Michigan on the way to states with less government-imposed burdens. We need to get rid of unnecessary hurdles that make Michigan less desirable to businesses while also making more jobs available to Michigan workers.”

“Prevailing wage artificially inflates costs on projects for no other reason than they are taxpayer-funded,” Hauck said.

The Democrats have said that laws like prevailing wage are about giving hourly workers dignity and respect and improving the lives of the middle class workers.