The UAW supports the filing yesterday of a lawsuit by the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, challenging Michigan Public Act 4. Public Act 4 gives emergency financial managers (EFMs) appointed by the governor unprecedented unilateral authority to strip elected officials of their power, cancel collective bargaining agreements and privatize services in any fiscally troubled local governments or school districts.  The Sugar Law Center is representing 25 Michigan residents in the lawsuit, Brown v. Snyder, against Gov. Rick Snyder and state Treasurer Andy Dillon.

The lawsuit challenges the EFM law on several grounds as violating the Michigan Constitution, including allegations that the EFM law improperly (i) attempts to delegate legislative powers without any standards that limit what EFMs can do, (ii) empowers EFMs to enact local laws without the constitutional restraints placed on local governments, (iii) usurps the right of local citizens to adopt and amend local government charters and laws, and to elect local officials, and (iv) violates the Headlee Amendment to the Michigan Constitution by imposing new costs on local government units.

“The EFM law is an outrageous abuse of power by Gov. Snyder,” said UAW President Bob King. “Michigan citizens did not vote for Snyder with the understanding that he would wipe out all decision-making authority from local elected officials. No budget deficit – no matter how large – gives the government the right to exert this kind of power over the lives of its citizens.  Gov. Snyder is effectively stealing citizens’ right to vote and elect their officials. “

“The EFM law is an unconstitutional power grab – a dishonest attempt by the politicians in Lansing to trample on the rights of Michigan’s residents and to replace local elected officials with people who support the governor’s agenda. This law violates the rights of all citizens, by taking away our basic right to self-government. And the residents of Michigan, I’m confident, will not stand for it,” said UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, who directs the union’s Public Sector department.