In November 2012, Michigan voters will decide six ballot proposals that will impact the state’s future. Governor Rick Snyder is speaking out on those proposals and their consequences:

PROPOSAL FOUR – Forced Unionization

Proposal Four, the “Keep Home Care a Safe Choice” initiative would amend our constitution to force Michigan’s 60,000 home healthcare aides to join a labor union. Those workers would be forced to have union dues withheld, whether they want to or not. That just isn’t right for Michigan.

I signed legislation preventing this from happening, but Proposal Four would override it while also inserting bad policy into our constitution.

Home care providers have already had more than $30 million taken from their paychecks. They don’t need to suffer any more than they already have.

This proposal does little to help those in our state who need home health care, and it certainly doesn’t help our dedicated healthcare providers.

Some organizations will benefit from Proposal Four because of the forced memberships. And what’s more, Proposal Four creates a slippery slope – anyone else who receives a direct or indirect payment from the government may be involuntarily enlisted into a union, as well.

Improving health care in Michigan is important, and I’m taking steps in partnership with the legislature, health care providers and insurers to improve wellness in Michigan. Proposal Four, though, is not the right way to improve health care and will be bad medicine for the people of Michigan.