LANSING — A cadre of unions representing a wide swath of workers across Michigan on Wednesday demanded that the Legislature, at long last, agree to a budget deal before the current fiscal year ends next week.

Michigan is careening toward a government shutdown because the House and Senate have yet to come to terms on how to fund the state in the coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

All manner of services, parks, inspections and other vital government functions will cease if the state shuts down due to the budget impasse. Schools are without state funding resources as they enter October, and it’s quite possible that the state might not be able to provide them with their first payments expected later that month.

Even worse, a prolonged shutdown could affect the state’s credit rating and have other unintended financial consequences. Still, the House and Senate have not been able to break the gridlock of divided government despite Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer trying mightily to bring the two sides together.

With those consequences in mind, members of the Michigan AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers, SEIU Michigan, AFSCME, the UAW and the Michigan Education Association all linked arms, so to speak, during two separate rallies held outside Lansing City Hall – adjacent from the Michigan Capitol – to urge the chambers along.

Terrence Martin, president of AFT Michigan, said the moment has reached critical mass.

“We are a week away from ensuring our students’ future,” Martin said. “We cannot allow legislators to drop the ball in this moment. It is critical. It is crucial.”

Eric Rader, AFT’s vice president focused on higher education issues, warned against lawmakers continuing to raid the school aid fund – which primarily funds K-12 public schools – in order to fund higher education. With massive cuts coming at the federal level as fallout from President Donald Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act spending plan, the legislature needs to focus on making college affordable and not have it compete for state dollars dedicated to K-12 schools.

“That’s not fair to K-12,” Rader said. “It’s certainly not fair to higher education.”

Jennifer Hollander, an educator in western Oakland County’s Huron Valley Schools, said the state needs to pass an equitable education budget that fully funds local schools and the programs that children rely on to succeed, like literacy coaches and universal meals.

Ron Bieber, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO, said that no matter how crazy things have gotten in Washington, D.C., he has not seen dysfunction on the level the state Legislature has stooped to in the current budget cycle. Bieber said a worker-first budget would fully fund the state’s occupational hazard and safety agency, career technical programs for skilled trades, protections for prevailing wages and universal free school meals.

“Instead of these practical common sense investments, Michigan House Republicans have been inspired by Trump and his billionaire buddies who are trying to slash and burn our government,” Bieber said. “Republicans in Michigan think if they break our budget and cripple critical services, people will lose faith in the government’s ability to serve the people, allowing them to make even deeper cuts next time it’s a never ending cycle. It’s got to stop.”