Rough stuff didn’t work

Nice showing by the unions this week in Michigan in their effort to thwart right-to-work legislation. Union members swarmed the Capitol grounds in Lancing, at one point ripping down a tent that belonged to a group that favored right to work, and punching one of its occupants.

Nuance has never been Big Labor’s strong suit. It’s always been easier to resort to muscle to get its way. In fact one Democratic state lawmaker vowed “there will be blood” if right to work were approved.

The unions didn’t succeed this time, as Republican Gov. Rick Snyder held firm and signed the bills into law. What paved the way for this change was rejection in November of an effort to guarantee collective bargaining by placing it in the state constitution. Voters gave the idea just 42 percent approval.

Right to work is now the law in 24 states, but none of the others carried as much symbolic value as Michigan.

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