Washtenaw among counties risking state funds for lengthy labor contracts

Legislation passed by a Republican-controlled House panel could put some state funding at risk for local governments that sign long labor contracts before Michigan's right-to-work law takes effect.

The bill was approved by the House General Government Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday. It would tie some incentive funding for counties, cities, villages and townships to requirements that union contracts renewed or extended before Thursday show savings of more than 10 percent.

Exact funding consequences for each municipality weren't immediately clear. Washtenaw County last week approved 10-year contracts with its unions.

Similar restrictions in a recent higher education budget proposal would cut 15 percent of aid for universities that enter into lengthy contracts without savings. About $41 million in state funding is at risk for the University of Michigan.

Republicans criticize the contracts as circumventing the right-to-work law. Democrats say the contract negotiations have been fair.