NFIB Thanks Michigan Senate for Blocking Efforts to Force Unions on Small Business in Marijuana Industry
NFIB thanks the Michigan Senate for the passage of a resolution today that stops any “labor peace agreement” requirements in the state’s new marijuana industry.
NFIB supports Senate Concurrent Resolution 18, outlawing union agreements between employer and employees of marijuana retailers and their employees as a requirement to obtain a state license to sell marijuana. “The resolution is a much-needed check on administrative rule power as the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs works through writing rules for the new marijuana industry in the state,” said Michigan state director Charles Owens.
First and foremost, NFIB has taken no position on the issue of marijuana legalization or use, nor do we intend to do so. Our concerns are that the rules, as currently proposed for this industry, could have serious repercussions for all businesses in Michigan, especially small business.
If a state agency can require the employees of a specific company in a specific industry to be union members in order to receive a license to conduct business in the state, then they could impose the same requirement on any trade or business that requires a license from the state to operate. Michigan currently requires licenses to operate for many different types of businesses and occupations. The precedent that could have been established in the marijuana licensing rules could have spurred new proposals to require forced unionization before issuing licenses for any type of business in Michigan.
Labor union advocates are using the agency rules process to get what they cannot get from the legislature. Just weeks ago, the Whitmer administration announced a similar effort to go around the legislature to implement new overtime requirements via a similar rules process. “NFIB thanks the Michigan Senate for halting this abuse of the rules process, where unelected and unaccountable career bureaucrats continue to usurp the legislature’s constitutional authority to make the laws in our state,” said Michigan state director Charles Owes.
