Michigan workers deserve the protection of a right-to-work law

This Labor Day we celebrate the men and women whose hard work keeps the country running. But in Michigan, many of those same workers face a real threat: pay union dues or lose their job. That's because Michigan is one of the few states that lack a right-to-work law. Right-to-work laws ensure that union membership and financial support are fully voluntary, meaning workers can join and pay dues if they choose, but it cannot be mandatory. In contrast, certain employees in Michigan may oppose unionization, but they can still be fired for refusing to fund the union. If you think this sounds unjust, you're in good company. For years, polls have consistently shown that eight in 10 Americans believe union membership and dues payment should be strictly voluntary. Those who see unions up close every day agree too. In a national poll conducted before the 2024 election, 79% of current union members said they agreed with the statement: "Workers should never be forced to join a union or pay dues to a union as a condition of employment." Fortunately, state employees in Michigan and across the country have enjoyed right-to-work protections since the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME U.S. Supreme Court decision. In that case, the court ruled in favor of Mark Janus and his National Right to Work Foundation attorney, who argued the case, finding that the First Amendment protects individuals from being forced to fund union activities as a condition of working for the government. But unfortunately, those who work in Michigan's private sector can still be forced to pay money to union bosses or be fired. This not only denies individual workers the basic freedom to decide whether union officials deserve their financial support, but also undermines economic growth and opportunity in Michigan by giving union bosses such coercion over employees. According to a recent National Institute for Labor Relations Research (NILRR) analysis of government economic data, from 2015 to 2025, the percentage growth in the number of people employed in right-to-work states was more than two times that of forced-unionism states. Over those same years, right-to-work states saw a 7.7% overall increase in manufacturing payroll employment, while forced-unionism states suffered a 2.9% decline in factory payrolls. The NILRR report also found that the rate of dependency on federal welfare (Temporary Aid to Needy Families) is nearly five times higher in forced-unionism states than in right-to-work states. Also, as a share of the population, there are fewer than half as many authorizations for new single-family housing construction in forced-dues states as in right-to-work states. And, after adjusting for regional differences in cost of living, residents of right-to-work states had roughly $3,500 more in disposable income per capita in 2025 than those in states lacking right-to-work laws. The economic benefits of right-to-work speak for themselves, but this isn't just about boosting the economy. At their core, right-to-work laws protect and empower workers' freedom, giving individual workers a tool to hold unions accountable; when union officials fail to advance a worker's interests, they risk losing the worker's financial support. Right-to-work laws don't outlaw labor unions, nor do they prevent anyone from joining one. They simply codify a popular, commonsense principle: every worker should have the choice to decide whether or not to join and fund a labor union. This Labor Day, take a moment to reflect on the injustices that workers in Michigan might be up against every day. Consider how right-to-work laws would not only protect their choice over whether or not to join and fund a labor union, but also boost economic growth and opportunity. This Labor Day, Michigan workers deserve more than our appreciation; they deserve the protection of a right-to-work law. Mark Mix is president of the National Right to Work Committee and the National Right to Work Foundation. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan workers deserve the protection of a right-to-work law | Opinion Reporting by Mark Mix / The Detroit News USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Reuters_USATLocal_GANews This story was originally published September 6, 2026 at 7:55 PM.