By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI –
Democrats in the state Legislature want voters to decide whether collective bargaining rights should be protected in the Michigan Constitution. But they will need a two-thirds majority in a Republican-led House and Senate to get the question on the ballot.
Democratic state Senator Bert Johnson says if the proposal does not pass through the Legislature, the labor movement may try a ballot initiative.
"We've had a lot of discussions with a lot of union organizations and a lot of members about issues like this, so we understand where their interest lies and where the zeal is to get something like this done," he says.
Democrats in both the House and Senate have introduced amendment proposals. It is unclear how much support they have from their Republican counterparts.