The Supreme Court majority held legislative Republicans circumvented the Michigan Constitution by adopting two petition initiatives on the state minimum wage and earned sick time to keep them from going to the ballot.
After the 2018 election, GOP lawmakers made business-friendly changes to the laws.
The ballot campaigns sued.
The Supreme Court said the Legislature was out of line.
Chris White of the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan says it’s a victory for workers, but also for direct democracy.
“What the court confirmed is that the people’s right to petition their government is more than political – it’s sacred.”
The new, higher minimum wage schedule will have to take into account five years of inflation.
