Senate Bill 1162 Summary

• Removes the "public school" exemption from Michigan's public employee strike prohibition, expanding the ban on strikes to include all public employees including school employees.

• Establishes a mandatory hearing process where public employers or bargaining representatives must notify the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) within 60 days of alleged strikes or lockouts, with MERC issuing a decision within 60 days.

• Imposes fines on striking public employees equal to one day of pay for each full or partial day of strike participation, and fines bargaining representatives $5,000 per day of strike activity.

• Requires public employers to deduct fines from employees' salaries and directs all collected fines to the state general fund; allows public employers to seek injunctions against strikes and bargaining representatives to seek injunctions against lockouts.

• Permits employers to pursue the new MERC hearing process separately from other remedies and procedures, and prohibits employers from reimbursing employees for monetary penalties imposed under the bill.