Supreme Court to hear right-to-work arguments in Jan.

LANSING – The Michigan Supreme Court will in January hear oral arguments on whether the state’s controversial right-to-work law applies to state employees and on another case related to state employee pensions.

The court will announce a specific date for arguments early next month, according to the court Clerk’s Office. Court is scheduled for Jan. 13 and 15 at the Michigan Hall of Justice, 925 W. Ottawa St.

The Michigan Coalition of State Employee Unions said the right-to-work law — passed in the 2012 lame duck session amid heated protests at the Capitol — does not apply to state employees because the state constitution gives oversight authority solely to the Michigan Civil Service Commission. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled against the employee unions in August 2013.

That case will be argued with another in which unions argue the Legislature exceeded its authority with a 2011 law requiring thousands of state employees to contribute 4 percent of their pay to retain full pension benefits. The appellate court ruled in August 2013 that only the Civil Service Commission can change compensation, and Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration appealed to the high court.