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(NBC NEWS) - One of the last bastions of union labor is on the verge of becoming a Right-To-Work state.

Both houses of the Michigan state legislature have now approved new laws making union membership in Michigan voluntary.

Thousands converged on the state capitol in Lansing, where demonstrations turned ugly at times tuesday.

A beefed-up police force had to keep protesters outside an already-packed capitol building.

None of the protests stopped the Republican-controlled Michigan House from following the GOP-led Senate in passing the laws that Democrats say is nothing more than corporate union-busting.

Emboldened by organized labor's failed attempt in last month's election to get collective bargaining protected in Michigan's constitution, Republicans hurried up this legislation.

Governor Rick Snyder has promised to sign the bills by the end of the week.