Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) Regional Directors from Board Regions 7-Detroit and 18-Minneapolis to strengthen worker protections. This agreement enables the Department of Attorney General and NLRB’s Detroit and Minneapolis regions to collaborate more closely by sharing information, conducting cross-training for staff, and partnering on investigative efforts within each agency’s authority to more effectively enforce the National Labor Relations Act and the state laws of Michigan.
"Protecting Michigan workers is paramount,” said Attorney General Nessel. “Labor laws ensure those in the workforce are treated fairly and are provided with a voice in determining the terms and conditions of their current and future employment. This partnership with the National Labor Relations Board bolsters our ability to enforce those laws and protect our workforce.”
“This partnership marks a significant step in our joint efforts to ensure that Michigan employers follow the law and that workers understand their workplace rights,” said Region 7-Detroit Regional Director Elizabeth Kerwin. “This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to protecting Michiganders and ensuring workplace laws are enforced at the federal and state level.”
“By uniting our resources and expertise, we are poised to more thoroughly effectuate the National Labor Relations Act and ensure that our staff are trained on the mandates of each agency,” said Region 18-Minneapolis Regional Director Jennifer Hadsall.
The collaboration will focus on key areas, including the misclassification of workers as independent contractors, addressing financial practices that harm workers, protecting workers’ rights to fair compensation, and promoting fair competition in labor markets. Additionally, the agreement aims to tackle labor issues specific to the gig economy, protect workers from retaliation when they exercise their rights, identify and prosecute labor traffickers, and address other matters that impact the legal protections of Michigan workers.
The NLRB’s Region 7-Detroit office serves most of Michigan. Region 18-Minneapolis serves the western half of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
###