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Pro-union protesters gather at Michigan State House

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    Mike Tobin reports from Lansing

  • Duration 7:36
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I think she got his start -- this Fox News alert there's a live look Lansing Michigan.

Massive crowds gathering at the State Capitol they're protesting the State's right to work law.

Lawmakers are set to cast the final -- inside that building this morning we understand that the governor is very ready to sign that into law.

Very controversial situation going on there live in Lansing -- morning everybody I'm -- -- account and you are here in America this on.

Good morning -- -- in for bill.

But the right to work vote means the unions will no longer be able to force workers to pay dues and it takes on greater significance.

In this state of Michigan.

Because that's the birthplace of the powerful United Auto Workers Union.

-- this -- has huge national implications over the power of organized labor.

Governor Rick Snyder -- says that the law will mean more jobs in his opinion and he believes that the protests hurt more than they help here he has.

If you go forward with us you're -- -- act create I.

On environment involving labor issues that this could rise to the level where I might not appeal to keep it off my agenda and unfortunately that's what's happened so I'm happy about being in -- -- -- way.

He has the responsibility.

Is our leader -- -- in this kind of -- cliff.

It's not it's not good enough we told him to say that he'd like to get this behind us.

This will do the opposite.

There's a -- as a lash out this morning we were told there would be out perhaps thousands of people gathered on the scene and it's certainly seems to be.

Coming coming out to be that kind of turn out take a look at that.

This morning 901 eastern time in Lansing Michigan now the governor is set to sign this into law.

Later today it will become the 24.

Right to work state in the nation this has been a growing trend.

Across the United States and you look at -- states like Michigan now and Wisconsin.

Both very big union states where this is a real perhaps turning point.

In this fight my toe was on the ground there live from the capital on Lansing so what's happening there right now Mike.

But judging by the because top Democrats here in Michigan -- say despite everything you see despite all of the show of force here on the lawn of the capitol.

This stage of the fighting is really over to senate bills are expected to go to the house -- what's called a vote of concurrence and they are expected to pass.

So as we look around at the live pictures -- here's some of the video that you've got rolling right now but as we look at everything that's happening here on the -- here in the cradle of organized labor.

Union membership is going to become optional and Michigan should become a right to work state.

Now in Michigan Republicans have the majority in both the senate and the house all the Michigan Democrats can hope to do is get their voice heard and express their anger.

But now it's official.

Ladies and gentlemen the governor of Michigan.

Is one greedy and -- And he's one week to.

He wasn't satisfied with outsourcing thousands of jobs to low wage China when he was on the board of gateway computer.

He wants to turn Michigan.

-- -- the same low wage environment that we see in China.

And looking around here live at the scene at the -- you have teachers who took today -- from school to demonstrate you have United Auto Workers we saw several -- big trucks from the -- a lot of people who are sympathetic to the efforts of these workers out here making their voices heard right now expressing their discontent with what has happened.

Governor Snyder just told me a short time ago.

This is in response to a ballot initiative that you may remember failed back in November that was called proposition -- and it would have put collective bargaining in the Michigan constitution.

It would have made it up on touch your ball.

By any kind of new legislation so that is part of the complaint from the Democrats they say it's politics they say it is retribution.

Also the complaint you hear from the Democrats out here is that it happened so fast.

It happened without the public having time to have input what you see here out of the lawn is something the Governor Snyder referenced as a counter that wasn't enough time -- public -- you wouldn't have all the people out here on the.

Lana yeah well there's a point and the union that resorting to name calling calling him a greedy nerd and a week heat.

We also see signs out there to see your mother would not be proud reviews so.

You know with the fact that this is probably a done deal this particular bill what -- the demonstrators really hope to accomplish what they're sort of future down the road hoping turning this around.

It's pretty interesting because Governor Snyder had the luxury of watching some of these other union battles take place in Wisconsin and Ohio and Indiana.

And one of the things they did as -- included an appropriation in this legislation and therefore under Michigan law it cannot be attacked with a statewide ballot initiative.

Like what happened in Ohio so the only avenues right now it seems for the Democrats -- people who -- oppose this legislation.

Is to go laughter -- what the legal challenge for.

Turn their sites in the next election.

Yeah hey you know it is watching these protesters.

And we have seen -- diminish saying it membership in unions really across the country.

And it's used to be a growing movement now with the 24 states.

You know clearly there was a large union presence and strength during the presidential election Mike and the president was there yesterday in Michigan.

I clearly he feels and allegiance to the union which didn't -- -- certainly helped get him elected in Michigan.

You heard a lot of people here in Michigan say that they turned out in numbers for the president so they expect him to come out here and do something we heard the president yesterday.

You say that this is taking Michigan in the wrong direction while he was speaking in Michigan.

I just stuck with Governor Snyder about that and he said he's moving in a direction that he believes will take Michigan forward to where it needs to -- to where it needs to grow economically so he's not -- necessarily listen to -- what could be perceived as a little bit of a threat from Washington the president saying he's opposed to something you're doing.

He's not concerned about putting Michigan at odds of Washington what he's concerned with he says is moving Michigan forward in terms of growing jobs.

It's so interesting Mike because in some cases you see a separation between union leadership and the workers themselves in terms of their political background how we saw what happened in Wisconsin.

With the you know effort -- to oust the governor there Scott Walker after he -- -- help to initiate moves like this in terms of the union.

-- John casing is also had issues come up after his election and he tried to an acting as an Ohio.

Does it does Governor Snyder expect that -- in the next election round they'll be a big backlash against him as well.

Really does expect anything -- he does understand he's go to you don't put his feet into walked into a tempest here if you will but Governor Snyder wants to draw a distinction between what happened in Wisconsin what happened in Ohio.

Because this isn't about collective bargaining this is simply about what he calls freedom to work and what so many other people call right to work.

He says -- this gives -- workers the option to choose.

This gives them the option to choose whether they want to belong to a union and that would put the unions in a position where they need to K -- to the rank and file as opposed to just mandate membership.

Yet -- and it's worth noting up for folks in downturns in the details of this that.

A game right now -- these workers if they don't wanna join the union still have to pay any union -- anyway.

I just to work in that plays so this would change that if you wanna work there.

I you don't want to be in the -- you're not going to be asked taking -- is that your paycheck either right I.

That's exactly what it is -- Hi my thank you so much my until -- and we'll be obviously gone back to that seen.

Live throughout the morning without watching what's going on Michigan bloody day there.