Nurses Association Marches to Capital

Labor issues are a major topic in Lansing this week. On Tuesday, the Governor signed legislation into law clarifying that graduate student research assistants are not recognized as public employees by the state Public Employment Relation Act. The act, known as “PERA”, restricts graduate students from forming a union because they are not seen as public employees.

On the heels of this act, about 500 members of the Michigan Nurses Association marched in the state capital today. It was a short walk from the Lansing Center to the Capital Building, but still calls attention to an issue that has implications for workers in many fields.

The nurses union is active in the petition drive on collective bargaining. The petition seeks to add an amendment to the state constitution on the November ballot.