May 19, 2013

Save Email Print Bookmark and Share
A A
Reporter: SAM HANANEL-AP Email

Unions Flexed Muscles in State Campaigns

WASHINGTON (AP) - From California to Maine, unions used their political muscle in the recent elections to help install Democratic governors, build labor-friendly majorities in state legislatures and defeat ballot initiatives against them.

The combination of union money and member mobilization helped Democrats take control of state legislatures in Maine and Minnesota.

In Michigan, voters repealed a law that allowed cities in financial distress to suspend collective bargaining contracts. But unions lost there on an effort to make collective bargaining rights a part of the state constitution.

In perhaps their most important victory, unions defeated a California ballot measure that would have prohibited them from collecting money for political purposes through payroll deductions.


Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
powered by Disqus

KOLO Online Poll

There are currently no active polls at this time.
Click here to view other polls on our site and past poll results.

U.S. Headlines - ABC.com

International Headlines - ABC.com