With an album
State Rep. Paul Opsommer, R-DeWitt, has released the following statement:
“During the six years I have had the privilege to be a state representative there have been many issues that have come and gone. While some reforms for our economy could be addressed quickly, others have taken time to get resolved. But one issue I have been dealing with from almost the very beginning has been the forced unionization of home help care workers.
“Home help care workers may sound like a fancy term, but the vast majority of ‘home help care workers’ are simply everyday people who are receiving Medicaid money from the government to help them keep their loved ones out of nursing homes. Family members can take care of a grandfather with Alzheimer’s in familiar surroundings, or attend to the special needs of a disabled child without taking them out of the home.
I still remember how surprised I was when my office started receiving phone calls from constituents participating in this program who were angered over having their Medicaid checks reduced. Not only were they being told that they had somehow been classified as a public employee just because of the government assistance, they were also getting union dues taken out of that money before it could reach them.
“Thousands of people have been trapped in this scheme, and since November of 2006, over $33 million dollars and counting has been diverted out of the Home Help Medicaid program and given to the Service Employees International Union. Many people have fought for over six years now to get out of that union, all to no avail. And over the course of those 6 years numerous laws were passed, public debates heard, attorney general opinions written, and court cases fought. Despite all that, the forced unionization and dues still continue today.
“What one thing would have made a difference? Labor freedom. If Michigan had been a labor freedom state, where workers are not forced to join a union against their will, these people simply could have opted out and been left in peace. They would not have been forced to pay dues, and there would have been more money available to them to take care of their loved ones. What has ended up being six years of turmoil for so many could have been totally avoided by them placing just one phone call.
“For that reason I support making Michigan a labor freedom state, where unions are free to make their case to workers to join them in forming collective bargaining agreements, and workers are free to make their choice on whether or not they wish to join. This is a simple matter of equity and fairness. It does not end collective bargaining, and preserves the right of free association that all Americans can enjoy. While undoubtedly any decision in this area will result in contention, I wanted to make my case before leaving the legislature on why I feel Michigan should be a labor freedom state.”