Mich. right-to-work law rallies in offing

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LANSING, Mich., Dec. 8 (UPI) -- About 7,000 people are expected to gather in Lansing, Mich., Tuesday for rallies both in favor of and against a proposed state right-to-work law.

Unions spent Friday organizing civil disobedience training and staffing phone banks for their anti-right-to-work law protests, which the Detroit Free Press reported could be the largest at the Capitol in decades.

"On a scale of one to 10, this is an 11," said former U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, now a business development representative with the Michigan Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust. "This is a direct affront to organized labor and its members. It's a game-changer."

The state Legislature has fast-tracked the package of bills and it may be ready to sign by Gov. Rick Snyder by Tuesday. Snyder has already has said he will sign the legislation when it hits his desk.

"Citizens are going to be coming up and thanking legislators and the governor for doing the right thing," said Republican consultant Stu Sandler.