Four bills that would restrict union organizing and protest and prevent local governments adopting union-friendly regulations in Mississippi are now headed to the governor. [...] Supporters said Mississippi needs new laws to pre-empt organized labor strong-arm tactics seen in other states that they say would hinder economic development. Opponents said Mississippi is one of the least unionized states and the laws are red herrings that are either already covered by federal law or would run afoul of it.
Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education included language in an appropriations bill they voted out of committee last week which will strip Michigan State University of a half million dollars in annual funding if they continue to offer a training program for members of a variety of building trades unions. The legislation strips the funding if they offer any course which includes "participating with any business or union, or group of businesses or unions, in hosting, sponsoring, administering, or in any way facilitating an academy, seminar, class, course, conference, or program that provides instruction, in whole or in part, in techniques for encouraging or discouraging employees in regard to union organizing." The penalty for each violation of the provision would be a $500,000 reduction in a university's state appropriation.