The Michigan State Senate just passed the “right to work” for less bill. The House passed a similar bill earlier today and Gov. Rick Snyder (R) says he will sign the legislation that rolls back workers’ rights.

White House spokesperson Matt Lehrich said Thursday the president opposes "right to work" for less laws like legislation proposed in Michigan.

"Right to Work" for less passes the Michigan State House by a 58-52 vote. The senate is debating a similar bill. 

Reports coming in from Twitter, via #saveMI and other hashtags, say that the Michigan state Capitol is locked down and protesters are being denied access. MLive confirms that several of the 3,000 protesters on hand have been arrested and that mace was used on several of them after they tried to enter the Senate chambers. Police say no one else is being allowed in the building because they fear that the structural integrity of the building was threatened. At least eight arrests were made, according to police, for "impeding the flow of pedestrian traffic." Working families and their allies are rallying at the Capitol in opposition to a new "right to work" for less proposal being put forth by Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative Republicans.

Locked-out American Crystal Sugar workers tried to deliver a petition with more than 100,000 signatures urging a resumption of talks to end the 17-month lockout of some 1,300 workers to company executives, shareholders and growers at the firm’s shareholder meeting in Fargo, N.D., Thursday morning. But in a similar response to CEO Dave Berg’s refusal to bargain for a fair contract, Berg and other top company officials refused to meet with the workers.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka condemned the actions of Gov. Rick Snyder and the radical Republicans in Michigan who announced today that "right to work" for less legislation would be pushed forward in the state's "lame-duck" session. Working families filled the Lansing Capitol building Thursday, outraged at the attempts to strip them of their voice in the workplace. Snyder is the latest in a line of extreme Republican governors, such as Scott Walker of Wisconsin, John Kasich of Ohio and Rick Scott of Florida, who are assaulting the rights of working families.

Working families across the country will participate in a Candlelight Campaign on Dec. 10 to urge Congress to end tax cuts for the richest 2% and to say "no" to benefit cuts for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The candlelight rallies, town halls, vigils and other events will coincide with International Human Rights Day.

Sure, you're eating free-range chicken and fruits and veggies sans pesticides in your favorite upscale restaurant, but did you ever consider the working conditions "behind the kitchen door?" Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) just released its 2013 National Diners' Guide that provides information on the wage, benefits and promotion practices of the 150 most popular restaurants in America in nine major cities across the country. Now you won't have to wonder whether your server is sick or if the person preparing your food is being paid a living wage. 

Workers at Walmart need public assistance to afford heating their homes. Workers at Wendy's and McDonald's need food stamps to survive. As more and more jobs get shipped overseas, workers in the United States are clinging to the jobs that can't be easily outsourced: food service, domestic care and retail. People all over the country are taking bold actions to shed light on the poor working conditions they face. 

Shouts of "Who's house? Our house" echoed in Michigan's state Capitol rotunda last night as hundreds of union members and activists protested the "right to work" for less law that is being considered today in the state legislature after Gov. Rick Snyder announced it was "on the table."

The Michigan State AFL-CIO live-tweeted from the Capitol and announced it will return today to continue the protest and provide more updates. Follow the Michigan state federation on Twitter.