Michigan Small Business to Lawmakers: Protecting Union Jobs is Not in Your Job Description

October 3, 2023 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

Proposed Legislation Picks Winners and Losers, Insinuating Some Jobs More Important Than Small Business Jobs

Michigan Small Business to Lawmakers: Protecting Union Jobs is Not in Your Job Description

NFIB, or the National Federation of Independent Business, is voicing concerns over proposed legislation that would create a new government entity to help a fraction of workers who have lost their job because of environmental policies passed by the same legislature. The bill was discussed this morning in the Senate Labor Committee. NFIB State Director Amanda Fisher expressed her opposition to the legislation, Senate Bill 519, which creates a cushion for a small portion of workers, picks winners and losers and thereby implying that some workers are more important than others. Fisher points out that legislators trying to solve the problems that arise from their own legislation by creating a new government agency is hypocritical and arrogant. Below is a statement from Fisher on behalf of the more than 10,000 small business owners across Michigan. “If legislators are worried about the effects their legislation will have on Michigan workers, they should reconsider their policies rather than trying to fix it with even more government resources. This legislation appears to be a blatant attempt to appease unions, whose members in the auto industry will be negatively impacted by other proposed environmental policy. What about the small business owners who were forced to close their doors and lay off workers thanks to government mandated shutdowns during the pandemic? Are they less important than union workers? This legislation implies that union jobs are more important than jobs created by small business owners, who employ 48% of Michigan’s workforce. We hope lawmakers abandon this proposal and focus on legislation that will help all Michiganders.”

Topics:

Taxes

State:

Michigan

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