Hundreds of union supporters filled the halls of the Michigan Capitol on Tuesday, as the Michigan Senate voted along party lines to repeal the decade-old "right-to-work" law. This law, enacted in 2012 when Republicans fully controlled Michigan government, prohibited public and private unions from requiring that nonunion employees pay union dues. The repeal was one of the top legislative goals for Senate Democrats this session. The repeal was supported by all 38 Democrats in the Senate, and opposed by all 22 Republicans. The repeal of the law is seen as a victory for organized labor in the state, which has long been considered a pillar of union rights. Supporters of the repeal argued that the law had weakened unions and their ability to negotiate for better wages and benefits for their members. "This is a great day for Michigan workers," said Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, a Democrat from Flint. "The repeal of this law is an important step in restoring the rights of Michigan workers and their ability to negotiate for better wages and benefits." The repeal now goes to the House, where it will need to pass with a majority vote before it can be signed into law. If it passes, the repeal will take effect immediately.