Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Live across the Great Lake State. You're connected to Michigan's
most engaging and influential radio and television program, Michigan's Big
Show starring Michael Patrick Shields, presented by Blue Cross, Blue
Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm producer and creative director Tony Cuthberts.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Now in the shadow of the Capitol Dome and Lansing.
He's heard from the beaches of Lake Michigan, to the
halls of power and behind closed doors. Here's Michigan's Michael
Patrick Shields.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
When we look at the state, you probably have about
fifteen percent on the hard left, fifteen percent on the
hard right, and there's about seventy percent of the state
right in the middle.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
At the end of the day, if you can come
home from.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Your work, whether you're a writer or a broadcaster, or
if you're a bus driver, if you can come home
and you're satisfied with what you did and you're happy,
then you're a very blessed person.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Michael Patrick Shields is on the air.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Good Morning World.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Interesting article in the New York Posts an exclusive. The
headline is sad State of the Unions, not the State
of the Union Address. The labor unions, and that Andrew
Cuomo's election loss reveals the one time king maker New
York City unions are now toothless paper tigers. They couldn't
(01:22):
get him across the finish line. And with a name
like Como, you would think he would have been a favorite.
Not much help. I guess we are interestingly enough involved
in a situation in Michigan that is sort of an
is is you ain't my baby? Over the last ten
to twelve years, and Alan Jernigan is a manager for
(01:43):
the Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force at the
American Legislative Exchange Council ALEC for short. He's on our
AT and T line or radio stage right now, as
once again the concept of right to work takes the
stage in Michigan thanks to Senator Albert who introduced Senate
(02:04):
Bill four thirty six. I think we spoke to him
just a couple of days ago about this. In the meantime,
mister Jernagan, welcome to the airwaves.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
So we didn't have right to work and then it
was very dramatic a decade ago, and right to work
was instilled in Michigan, and then it got overturned with
the current administration, and now there is a bill to
restore right to work in the Michigan Senate. What is
right to work? If somebody's hearing this for the first time,
(02:36):
and what happens next?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Yeah, So simply right to work is just giving an
employee the right to choose whether they want to financially
support or join a union without an effect on their
employment status. So just really letting them choose the path
and option that's best for them. As far as what next,
you know, repeal of right to work in Michigan was
(03:02):
the first time a state has repealed that protection in
nearly sixty years. You know, they can write, Michigan can
write the ship with leadership that prioritizes labor freedom and
reform and really returns the power back to the workers
rather than the unions.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
Basically, you get a job and it's a union job
or a union shop, I guess is what they kind
of call it. I don't know when they say, all right, yeah,
you can have the job, but you have to pay
the labor union thousands of dollars to join and you
don't have a choice in the matter. That's how it
is right now, simple as that.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, without right to work. For for private workers, you know,
they can be compelled to join a union essentially the
condition of being employed. So right to work just takes
that away and gives them the choice on they can
make their own decision. They're welcome to join the union
if they'd like, but if they don't want to, they
also don't have to or pay any sort of dues
(03:57):
for that.
Speaker 5 (03:59):
Some people might want to, they might see some benefit
from it. What would those benefits be.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Well, some people like the protection of the overall bargaining
power that comes with the union. But you know, it
really allows workers to be individuals if they choose not
to join one and argue and kind of advocate on
behalf of themselves and what's best for their specific situation,
which empowers the workers and gives them kind of that
word I keep coming back to the freedom to kind
(04:28):
of find their own version of the American dream.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
So the initial contract usually that they enter was negotiated
by the union, so they do get the benefit of
that if it's presumably a good contract for the worker.
But I'm curious to know why is it the government's business,
Why is it the state legislature's business to mandate that
somebody join a union in order to have a job.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
I think that's a great point. I'm not sure why
it would be. I think it's really kind of some
government interference getting in the way of just true simple
protections for workers.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
And why is it presumed that Democrats support being compelled
to join a union as opposed to a right to
work situation?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
You know, I think it's in my mind it's kind
of a common sense issue. But I think for a
lot of it it's just kind of where priorities lie,
and whether that be letting the government kind of put
the some on the scale and more situations, or kind
of the more free market approach, which is allowing the
businesses and market to play itself out.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
There was a study released called States that Work Nice
play on words. There a labor policy robemap across America
and it analyzed the fifty states and the worker policies.
What about those states that have the right to work
for workers? The right to choose basically is what it is,
whether you want to join a union or not. How
are they doing? And I mean it's probably apples and
(06:01):
oranges in some cases, But what can we learn about
the states that do have right to work.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Well, yeah, as you mentioned, we recently did a report
where we looked at key Alec model policies across all
fifty states and ranked the states on what pro worker
policies they had. The Michigan finished ranked thirty fifth out
of fifty. But interestingly enough, if they were to state
(06:28):
right to work and move all the way up to
twenty second, and kind of following the trend of just
interesting on how well right to work states performed in
this report is they're twenty sixth right to work states
across the country, and the lowest ranked one of them
came in this report was twenty eighth.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Where's Michigan.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Michigan's thirty fifth overall?
Speaker 5 (06:51):
And do you believe that if Senate Bill four thirty
six were to pass somehow and right to work were
to be restored in Michigan, that Michigan's position would improve.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Absolutely? If all stayed the same now and Michigan just
added right to work, they would move up to twenty second,
So a big jump.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
All right, you have it there in the statistics and
the facts, Thank you very much. Right to work is
right to choose. Sort of ironic isn't it. Michael Patrick
shields with you radio stations across the state of Michigan.
At Meyer, you get more of the things you want most,
more local produce, more home decre more free prescriptions. More importantly,
you get them all for less. Admire why would you
(07:34):
pay more? Michigan Freedom Fund is fighting every day to
hold government accountable for Michigan tax payers. They're champions of
limited government, transparency, and our constitutional freedoms. Visit Michiganfreedomfund dot
com and find them on Facebook and x and learn
how you can join the fight for freedom. Freedom could
be financial, and it could come to you through the
(07:54):
Michigan Lottery and you can play at your lottery retailer
or at Michigan Lottery dot com or at the Michigan
lot reapp And every year over a billion dollars of
lottery revenue goes to the School Aid Fund. We appreciate that,
and we wish you luck rise up and grow and
learn in the epicetter of greater Metro Detroit, fuel your
(08:15):
community with fresh ideas, and become the leader you were
meant to be. Explore more at Oakland dot edu. It's
Michael Patrick Shields with you through the AT and T
Microphones and very pleased to be here. There's another group too.
Do you know about Americans for Prosperity. You do if
you listen to this program. That's the nation's largest grassroots
(08:37):
organization fighting to reignite the American dream and help secure
the border and end inflation make energy more affordable. Americans
for Prosperity dot org to get involved Today, it's MPs
through the AT and T microphones.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Get rubbed up to win big at fire Keepers. It's
the Jeep joy Ride Giveaway. On Saturday, July twenty six.
You can wrangle up one of four jeep wranglers, including
a Sizzling Sport, a wild Willies, or the grand prize,
a rugged Rubicon. God Drawing start at two pm with
(09:21):
five winners of five thousand in red hot credits. At
four pm, one winner revs up a Wrangler Sport. At
six pm, another lucky winner rides off in a Wrangler
sport s Then at eight pm we're giving away a
Wrangler Willis. At ten pm, it's the Grand Prize drawing,
where one winner hits the trail with an off road Rubicon.
(09:42):
Earn entries daily plus or double entries every Wednesday now
through July twenty six for the Jeep joy Ride Giveaway.
The best giveaways. The biggest guaranteed prize is only at
fire Keepers. Get your vegas on at fire Keepers Casino
Hotel I ninety four to Exit one oh four in
Battle Creek. Management reserves all rights.
Speaker 6 (10:01):
We sit excited on the bus, the sidelines, courtside in dugouts,
waiting for our shot. Driven by Greatness. For decades, Dean
Trailways has delivered athletes safely to their battlegrounds, not as
a spectator, but as a teammate. Much more than a job,
a true calling with all the purpose and performance that
champions possess. Join the Dean Team today and experience what
(10:24):
it means to be driven by greatness. Go Team, Go
Dean Dean jobs dot Com.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Whether they're dough boys, comments, or even gremlins, every public
school in Michigan is proud to be known for something,
and at the Michigan Lottery, we're proud to be known
for something too. Education. I'm Lottery Commissioner Susanna Shcrelli, and
one hundred percent of our profits go to support the
State School Aid Fund. Last year, the lottery contributed over
one billion dollars, So whatever hometown school you're from, we're
(10:52):
rooting for all of them. Michigan Lottery for Fun for schools.
Speaker 6 (10:56):
Knowing your limits is always the best back
Live across the Great Lake State. You're connected to Michigan's
most engaging and influential radio and television program, Michigan's Big
Show starring Michael Patrick Shields, presented by Blue Cross, Blue
Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm producer and creative director Tony Cuthberts.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Now in the shadow of the Capitol Dome and Lansing.
He's heard from the beaches of Lake Michigan, to the
halls of power and behind closed doors. Here's Michigan's Michael
Patrick Shields.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
When we look at the state, you probably have about
fifteen percent on the hard left, fifteen percent on the
hard right, and there's about seventy percent of the state
right in the middle.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
At the end of the day, if you can come
home from.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Your work, whether you're a writer or a broadcaster, or
if you're a bus driver, if you can come home
and you're satisfied with what you did and you're happy,
then you're a very blessed person.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Michael Patrick Shields is on the air.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Good Morning World.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Interesting article in the New York Posts an exclusive. The
headline is sad State of the Unions, not the State
of the Union Address. The labor unions, and that Andrew
Cuomo's election loss reveals the one time king maker New
York City unions are now toothless paper tigers. They couldn't
(01:22):
get him across the finish line. And with a name
like Como, you would think he would have been a favorite.
Not much help. I guess we are interestingly enough involved
in a situation in Michigan that is sort of an
is is you ain't my baby? Over the last ten
to twelve years, and Alan Jernigan is a manager for
(01:43):
the Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force at the
American Legislative Exchange Council ALEC for short. He's on our
AT and T line or radio stage right now, as
once again the concept of right to work takes the
stage in Michigan thanks to Senator Albert who introduced Senate
(02:04):
Bill four thirty six. I think we spoke to him
just a couple of days ago about this. In the meantime,
mister Jernagan, welcome to the airwaves.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
So we didn't have right to work and then it
was very dramatic a decade ago, and right to work
was instilled in Michigan, and then it got overturned with
the current administration, and now there is a bill to
restore right to work in the Michigan Senate. What is
right to work? If somebody's hearing this for the first time,
(02:36):
and what happens next?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Yeah, So simply right to work is just giving an
employee the right to choose whether they want to financially
support or join a union without an effect on their
employment status. So just really letting them choose the path
and option that's best for them. As far as what next,
you know, repeal of right to work in Michigan was
(03:02):
the first time a state has repealed that protection in
nearly sixty years. You know, they can write, Michigan can
write the ship with leadership that prioritizes labor freedom and
reform and really returns the power back to the workers
rather than the unions.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
Basically, you get a job and it's a union job
or a union shop, I guess is what they kind
of call it. I don't know when they say, all right, yeah,
you can have the job, but you have to pay
the labor union thousands of dollars to join and you
don't have a choice in the matter. That's how it
is right now, simple as that.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, without right to work. For for private workers, you know,
they can be compelled to join a union essentially the
condition of being employed. So right to work just takes
that away and gives them the choice on they can
make their own decision. They're welcome to join the union
if they'd like, but if they don't want to, they
also don't have to or pay any sort of dues
(03:57):
for that.
Speaker 5 (03:59):
Some people might want to, they might see some benefit
from it. What would those benefits be.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Well, some people like the protection of the overall bargaining
power that comes with the union. But you know, it
really allows workers to be individuals if they choose not
to join one and argue and kind of advocate on
behalf of themselves and what's best for their specific situation,
which empowers the workers and gives them kind of that
word I keep coming back to the freedom to kind
(04:28):
of find their own version of the American dream.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
So the initial contract usually that they enter was negotiated
by the union, so they do get the benefit of
that if it's presumably a good contract for the worker.
But I'm curious to know why is it the government's business,
Why is it the state legislature's business to mandate that
somebody join a union in order to have a job.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
I think that's a great point. I'm not sure why
it would be. I think it's really kind of some
government interference getting in the way of just true simple
protections for workers.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
And why is it presumed that Democrats support being compelled
to join a union as opposed to a right to
work situation?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
You know, I think it's in my mind it's kind
of a common sense issue. But I think for a
lot of it it's just kind of where priorities lie,
and whether that be letting the government kind of put
the some on the scale and more situations, or kind
of the more free market approach, which is allowing the
businesses and market to play itself out.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
There was a study released called States that Work Nice
play on words. There a labor policy robemap across America
and it analyzed the fifty states and the worker policies.
What about those states that have the right to work
for workers? The right to choose basically is what it is,
whether you want to join a union or not. How
are they doing? And I mean it's probably apples and
(06:01):
oranges in some cases, But what can we learn about
the states that do have right to work.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Well, yeah, as you mentioned, we recently did a report
where we looked at key Alec model policies across all
fifty states and ranked the states on what pro worker
policies they had. The Michigan finished ranked thirty fifth out
of fifty. But interestingly enough, if they were to state
(06:28):
right to work and move all the way up to
twenty second, and kind of following the trend of just
interesting on how well right to work states performed in
this report is they're twenty sixth right to work states
across the country, and the lowest ranked one of them
came in this report was twenty eighth.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Where's Michigan.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Michigan's thirty fifth overall?
Speaker 5 (06:51):
And do you believe that if Senate Bill four thirty
six were to pass somehow and right to work were
to be restored in Michigan, that Michigan's position would improve.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Absolutely? If all stayed the same now and Michigan just
added right to work, they would move up to twenty second,
So a big jump.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
All right, you have it there in the statistics and
the facts, Thank you very much. Right to work is
right to choose. Sort of ironic isn't it. Michael Patrick
shields with you radio stations across the state of Michigan.
At Meyer, you get more of the things you want most,
more local produce, more home decre more free prescriptions. More importantly,
you get them all for less. Admire why would you
(07:34):
pay more? Michigan Freedom Fund is fighting every day to
hold government accountable for Michigan tax payers. They're champions of
limited government, transparency, and our constitutional freedoms. Visit Michiganfreedomfund dot
com and find them on Facebook and x and learn
how you can join the fight for freedom. Freedom could
be financial, and it could come to you through the
(07:54):
Michigan Lottery and you can play at your lottery retailer
or at Michigan Lottery dot com or at the Michigan
lot reapp And every year over a billion dollars of
lottery revenue goes to the School Aid Fund. We appreciate that,
and we wish you luck rise up and grow and
learn in the epicetter of greater Metro Detroit, fuel your
(08:15):
community with fresh ideas, and become the leader you were
meant to be. Explore more at Oakland dot edu. It's
Michael Patrick Shields with you through the AT and T
Microphones and very pleased to be here. There's another group too.
Do you know about Americans for Prosperity. You do if
you listen to this program. That's the nation's largest grassroots
(08:37):
organization fighting to reignite the American dream and help secure
the border and end inflation make energy more affordable. Americans
for Prosperity dot org to get involved Today, it's MPs
through the AT and T microphones.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Get rubbed up to win big at fire Keepers. It's
the Jeep joy Ride Giveaway. On Saturday, July twenty six.
You can wrangle up one of four jeep wranglers, including
a Sizzling Sport, a wild Willies, or the grand prize,
a rugged Rubicon. God Drawing start at two pm with
(09:21):
five winners of five thousand in red hot credits. At
four pm, one winner revs up a Wrangler Sport. At
six pm, another lucky winner rides off in a Wrangler
sport s Then at eight pm we're giving away a
Wrangler Willis. At ten pm, it's the Grand Prize drawing,
where one winner hits the trail with an off road Rubicon.
(09:42):
Earn entries daily plus or double entries every Wednesday now
through July twenty six for the Jeep joy Ride Giveaway.
The best giveaways. The biggest guaranteed prize is only at
fire Keepers. Get your vegas on at fire Keepers Casino
Hotel I ninety four to Exit one oh four in
Battle Creek. Management reserves all rights.
Speaker 6 (10:01):
We sit excited on the bus, the sidelines, courtside in dugouts,
waiting for our shot. Driven by Greatness. For decades, Dean
Trailways has delivered athletes safely to their battlegrounds, not as
a spectator, but as a teammate. Much more than a job,
a true calling with all the purpose and performance that
champions possess. Join the Dean Team today and experience what
(10:24):
it means to be driven by greatness. Go Team, Go
Dean Dean jobs dot Com.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Whether they're dough boys, comments, or even gremlins, every public
school in Michigan is proud to be known for something,
and at the Michigan Lottery, we're proud to be known
for something too. Education. I'm Lottery Commissioner Susanna Shcrelli, and
one hundred percent of our profits go to support the
State School Aid Fund. Last year, the lottery contributed over
one billion dollars, So whatever hometown school you're from, we're
(10:52):
rooting for all of them. Michigan Lottery for Fun for schools.
Speaker 6 (10:56):
Knowing your limits is always the best back
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