UAW Local 6000 Sounds Alarm as Michigan Shutdown Deadline Approaches

As a potential government shutdown looms with an October 1 deadline, Michigan's UAW Local 6000 is raising concerns about endangered state services alongside Senator Sarah Anthony in a Capitol meeting.

LANSING

With the threat of a Michigan government shutdown looming as the October 1 deadline approaches, the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 6000 has expressed significant concerns over the critical services at risk. Representing 16,000 State of Michigan employees across 1,200 sites, the union includes members from vital departments such as Health and Human Services, the Secretary of State, and state corrections offices.

UAW Local 6000 President Rachel Dickinson stated, "UAW Local 6000 members are on the front lines of ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable populations, providing critical services to people who depend on basic necessities essential to their survival." Dickinson emphasized the immediate impact of a shutdown, noting, "When UAW Local 6000 members aren’t on the job, Michigan feels it fast—unemployment claims don’t get processed, SNAP and Medicaid slow down or grind to a halt, public safety is put at risk. This isn’t just paperwork; it’s people’s lives and the stability of our state."

Senator Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) joined the union members in Lansing to discuss the implications of a budget proposal from the Michigan House that threatens to lead the state toward a shutdown.

Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony, herself a descendant of UAW retirees, remarked, "As the daughter of two proud UAW retirees, I am proud to stand with UAW Local 6000 today and every day." She added, "When we support our state employees, we support the very fabric of Michigan’s success. Senate Democrats will keep standing with our state workers and working around the clock until we pass a balanced state budget that funds essential human services, protects our workers, and invests in the future of our state."

This week, State of Michigan employees are anticipating two-week notice letters that warn of the impending October 1 shutdown. The situation arises after the Michigan House, dominated by Republicans, advanced a budget plan that threatens to cut deeply into services, particularly affecting working-class communities.

Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) criticized the actions of the House, saying, "It’s time for House Republicans to quit messing around with people’s livelihoods and the core services on which Michiganders rely." She further emphasized the contributions of state workers, stating, "These folks do the oftentimes unglamorous work of keeping our state running, yet have been maligned as ‘waste, fraud, and abuse.’ We won’t stand for it. In this moment, they deserve honest leadership from the legislature and nothing less."