Michigan Legislature Repeals Right to Work and Reinstates Prevailing Wage

On March 24, 2023, Governor Whitmer signed into law bills repealing Michigan's "right-to-work" law and reinstating the prevailing wage statute, the latter of which had been repealed in 2018. 

The prevailing wage statute will mandate higher wages and benefits on state-funded buildings, schools, public works projects, roads and bridges. 

These new laws will taken effect in March 2024.  

Whitmer signs repeal of right-to-work, prevailing wage | Crain's Detroit Business (crainsdetroit.com)  

 

Michigan Governor Reinstates Prevailing Wage Requirement for DTMB Projects

On October 7, 2021, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that she's signed an executive directive instructing the Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget (DTMB) to require contractors and subcontractors to pay prevailing wages for construction projects in Michigan. The prevailing wage policy will only apply to projects bid out by the DTMB. 

Michigan's Prevailing Wage Act was repealed by the Michigan Legislature on June 6, 2018. 

Watch this space for updates because the Governor's executive action will most certainly be challenged in the courts by non-union contractors and their associations.  

Michigan Legislature Renews Effort to Abolish Prevailing Wage

On January 18, 2017,  Senators Peter MacGregor, Dave Hildenbrand, and Arlan Meekhof, introduced S.B. 0003, which would repeal Michigan's Prevailing Wage statute (PA 166 of 1965; MCL 408.551, et seq) in its entirety. 

The proposed legislation also includes a nominal appropriation to make it more difficult to challenge the repeal if enacted.

We'll continue to monitor this proposed legislation, which is certain to attract attention in the upcoming months.