Business & Economy

Workplace violence affects health workers, study says

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By ERIC FREEDMAN
Capital News Service
LANSING — Workers in hospitals and other health care facilities are at higher risk of becoming victims of workplace violence than employees in other jobs, a new federal study found. Kicking, hitting and beating are the most commonly reported forms of on-the-job violence that caused health care employees to miss days at work, according to the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan investigative agency of Congress. The Michigan Nurses Association, which represents unionized hospital nurses, cited two such incidents. In one, a professional wrestler being treated at an Alpena emergency room twisted a nurse’s arm and damaged her shoulder. In the other, a nurse who was eight months pregnant was kicked in the stomach.

Business & Economy

Right-to-Work Bills Spark Controversy

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Some have described it as a ‘game changer’ while others have declared it a travesty for Michigan workers. Either way, in a matter days, a GOP majority quickly moved right-to-work legislation through a lame duck session in both the House and Senate. “In the space of 72 hours it went from ‘not on my agenda’ to ‘it’s going be a law in a couple of weeks,’ and that’s a pretty dramatic transition,” said Rick Pluta of Michigan Radio who has been following Lansing politics for more than two decades. It’s a move that marks the end of decades long “closed shop” laws in the state, meaning workers would now no longer be required to join union or pay union dues. For most of his term Gov. Rick Snyder has made it a point to steer clear of such divisive issues.

News

Focal Point Fall 2012 [show 7]

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A common drug students are using to push through finals may effect their health in the long-run. Christmas tree prices on the rise and crowds bring chaos to the Capitol. Reporters: Lauren Gentile, Chloe Hill, Josh Sidorowicz and Edith Zhou

Focal Point is an Emmy awarding winning, student produced newscast from the School of Journalism at Michigan State University.

Government

Michigan Workers Rally at the Capitol with Budget Protests

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Governor Snyder’s plans for the new budget have caused a stir throughout mid-Michigan and all over the state. Wednesday, March 16 saw thousands of demonstrators at the steps of the capitol building in Lansing. The protest included a very diverse group of demonstrators from education, the UAW, Michigan Nurses Association, retired pension-holders, only a few. There demonstrators protested diverse issues from Governor Snyder’s proposed bills like the implementing of emergency financial managers who have the power to dissolve local government, the proposed end to collective bargaining agreements, and taxes on pensions. Demonstrators went inside the capitol building chanting things like “Whose house?