LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette are trying to to block a statewide ballot initiative aimed at protecting collective bargaining rights for workers.

Snyder and Schuette filed court papers on Monday that would scuttle the Protect Our Jobs ballot proposal. The plan would write collective bargaining rights into the Michigan Constitution by placing the issue before voters in the November general election.

An appeal was made after the Board of State Canvassers deadlocked 2-2 last week on the ballot proposal by sponsors of Protect Our Jobs.

Nearly 700,000 signatures were filed to get the measure on the ballot.

Citizens Protecting Michigan's Constitution challenged the signatures, complaining that the ballot proposal was unconstitutionally broad.

The Michigan Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in the case Wednesday in Lansing.