LAW CHALLENGES UNION BENEFITS FOR GAY PAIRS: From the Detroit News

It didn't take long for Michigan to feel the impact of its new ban on gay marriage.

With five state unions about to ratify new contracts that allow gay workers to extend their benefits to domestic partners, several groups are likely to use the new law to challenge those benefits.

The American Family Association of Michigan, which helped lead the fight for the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, said its passage prohibits the state from treating gay relationships as similar to marriages. ...

But the unions said they were just as willing to defend the benefits if they're challenged by anyone.

The state's biggest union, UAW Local 6000, said it expected the state to live up to the spirit of the new contracts.

"We believe an agreement is an agreement and a deal is a deal," said union President Sharon Rivera.

Rivera said the proposed agreement shouldn't be affected by the amendment because it was reached before the voters approved the new law.

But Glenn said the tentative accord hasn't been finalized yet, so therefore it should come under the purview of the new amendment. The new state contracts would go into effect in October 2005.

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posted by Eve at 4:22 PM VOTE

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