Sept.

12, 2017

Dear Michigan Civil Service Commissioners,

As members of the Michigan Civil Service Commission, you are tasked with
making decisions that impact the working conditions, and in turn the very
livelihoods, of tens of thousands of state employees in all corners of Michigan.
Decisions with such a great impact should be made with great caution, which is
why I am writing to urge you to reject the dangerous proposal coming before
you that would remove Michigan civil service employees ability to bargain. If
passed, this proposal would not only hurt state workers, but it could
disproportionately impact African-Americans who deserve the freedom to
negotiate for a fair return on their work so they can provide for their families.

Unfortunately, the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus is not unfamiliar with

these kinds of attacks on the livelihoods of Michiganders and especially on
African-American and urban communities throughout our state. For the last
seven years, we have fought to preserve our hard-earned rights, including our
right to clean water and our access to the voting booth. To now have to defend
our right to negotiate basic job protections, including on-call pay, seniority
rights, layoff rights and overtime assignments, is yet another disappointing
attack from this administration. These unnecessary rule changes would put the
livelihood of African-American workers in the hands of management that could
alter their terms of employment without cause and without notice. That is
unacceptable.

Many are saying that the cultural climate in this country is more volatile today
than it has been in decades. In 2017, there has been a disturbing surge in the
number of hate crimes and death threats targeting members of the African-
American community and other minorities. Implementing this rule change not
only takes away from the dignity of Michigan workers, but it jeopardizes the
future of African-American nurses, bridge inspectors, social workers and others
who could be discriminated against by their employer in the absence of these
necessary workplace protections.

Our state workers and our taxpayers deserve better than what this proposal
would deliver. We cannot allow our state to move backward, and in doing so
risk endorsing subtle discrimination in the workplace. I urge you to reconsider
what is in the best interest of all Michiganders, and reject this misguided
proposal.

For the Love of the Community,

State Rep. Sheldon Neeley, Chair

Michigan Legislative Black Caucus