PITTSBURGH, Dec. 6, 2012  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) issued the following statements on the Michigan's legislature's and Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's attempts to pass Right-To-Work (For Less) legislation:

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From USW International President Leo W. Gerard:

"This move, coming only a month after the Election, is an obvious attempt by a lame-duck legislature to ram through an unpopular and unnecessary piece of garbage at the last minute. Voters sent a clear message on Nov. 6 that they want politicians to stand up for American workers and find solutions that will create good jobs and put working families ahead of corporate right-wing interests.

"It seems the Republican leadership in Michigan did not get that message. Instead of listening to the people of Michigan, they're wasting their time with a bill that would do the opposite. Laws like this bring lower wages, slashed benefits, disappearing pensions and unsafe workplaces. They silence the voices of people who work for a living. Calling this bill 'Right-To-Work' is a lie. The only rights it will provide are the rights of millionaires and billionaires to do whatever they want to working people. This is wrong for Michigan and wrong for hard-working people across the United States."

From USW District 2 (Michigan & Wisconsin) Director Michael Bolton:

"The people of Michigan have a proud history of standing up for the rights of workers. It's that history that helped build the middle class in this country. By passing this bill, the cowards in the Republican leadership in Michigan are turning their back on that legacy and telling the people of Michigan that corporate, right-wing interests are more important than the hard-working families of this state. It's a shameful, disgraceful move by leaders who are clearly out of step with the will of the people."

The USW represents about 850,000 workers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glassmaking to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber to the public sector, service and health care industries.

CONTACT:  R.J. Hufnagel, (412) 562-2450, rhufnagel@usw.org

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)