LANSING, Mich. — A bill that would ban school districts from collecting union dues has passed the Legislature and is on its way to Gov. Snyder, who is expected to sign it, according to WILX-TV. Under the bill, school districts could no longer automatically deduct dues from employees' paychecks and responsibility for dues collection would fall to the respective unions.
WILX-TV reports that some union officials see this bill as retaliation from a Republican-controlled Legislature.
"This bill has sat in the Legislature for months, but then 24 hours after we announced in coalition with other unions and community groups the formation of the constitutional amendment to protect collective bargaining, within 24 hours this bill was suddenly resurrected from the dead and passed," Steven Cook, president of the Michigan Education Association, told WILX-TV.
Supporters of the bill deny these accusations and instead claim the purpose of the bill is to relieve school districts of an unnecessary financial burden and make sure district assets are better allocated, according to WILX-TV.
"Why waste money on collecting dues. The school employees can simply write a check or transfer through their credit union or bank," Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, told WILX-TV.
SOURCE:
WILX-TV, “Bill Prohibits Schools from Deducting Union Dues," March 9, 2012
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Capitol Confidential, “School Districts Will Soon No Longer Be Responsible For Deducting Teacher Union Dues," March 8, 2012
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