Show Notes
In this episode, Kirk Westwood sits down with Michigan’s Senator John Cherry to discuss why the right-to-work laws are detrimental, not only to unions but to workers in general. You’ll hear how Cherry’s parents and grandparents were able to support their families through union membership, what “anti-worker right-to-work” laws are, how unions are finally becoming favorable in public opinion, the benefits unions provide to workers and their families,
Senator Cherry is proud to serve Michigan’s 27th Senate District which includes part of Burton and all of Clayton Township, including Flint and Flint Township. Cherry fights every day to lower costs for working families, protect our water, and strengthen our infrastructure. He is serving his first term in the Michigan Senate and is a previous two-term State Representative and the grandson of UAW retirees and generations of outdoorsmen. Prior to his service in the Michigan House of Representatives, he served as vice chair of the Flint Charter Commission, which proposed Flint’s first new charter in more than 40 years. Cherry holds a bachelor’s in natural resources and environment and a master’s in public policy from the University of Michigan. He lives in Flint, with his wife, daughter, and infant son.
The Construction User 2.0 podcast is brought to you by The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC). Your host, Kirk Westwood, is Director of Marketing for TAUC. Kirk has helped many organizations tell their stories as a photographer, blogger, web-streamer, and consultant. In each episode, we’ll explore the latest labor trends, industry insights, and important issues in the world of construction. Our guests are industry leaders, subject matter experts, and innovative visionaries discussing how we are building the ‘world of tomorrow.’ TAUC is made up of more than 1,800 contractor companies that utilize union labor for their projects, as well as local contractor associations and vendors in the industrial maintenance and construction fields. TAUC’s mission is to act as an advocate for union contractors and enhance cooperation between all parties to achieve the successful completion of construction projects.
Discussion points:
- Senator Cherry’s family history with union legacies
- What is the “Right to Work” law?
- Bills and laws that were reinstated or repealed in Senator Cherry’s term
- The impact of the Right to Work law on different unions
- What can be done to increase the union buy-in?
- Recognizing the benefits union membership offers your whole family
- Staffing construction projects with union vs. non-union
- Senator Cherry’s work in Michigan
- MI is the first state in 60 years to repeal this law legislatively
Resources:
Senator John Cherry MI
