LANSING, MI –
Michigan lawmakers might soon try to rescind a 3% pay raise scheduled to take effect Oct. 1 for roughly 35,000 union-represented state workers.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop says the state can't afford the raises. Michigan is wrestling with a projected $1.7 billion overall shortfall for the next fiscal year, which also starts Oct. 1.
Republicans say scrapping the pay raises would save an estimated $48 million. But rejecting the raises may be a longshot because it would require approval by two-thirds of the members of both the Republican-led Senate and Democratic-led House.
Union leaders said Thursday that workers already have made concessions and they will oppose any effort to take away raises.