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MERC Outlines Future Decision Outlawing ‘August Window’ and Stopping Collections

The MEA should stop harassing teachers

… “August Window” is illegal, the MEA should not file future collections … Commission essentially said that the MEA illegally chose power over principles, … resigned outside of August.”   The MEA will likely appeal the case. … employees represented by the MEA who desire to opt out may still want to send the MEA an opt-out letter in August …

New ‘Labor Voices’ Column, Same Old Teachers Union Disinformation

The new MEA president spreads the same inaccuracies as the old MEA president

… Association’s new president, Paula Herbart: The MEA wrote: “In Utica, where teachers are working without … $7,214 per student this year, not $7,845. The MEA wrote: “Grand Rapids school employees questioned … are 294. That’s not “exponential growth.” The MEA wrote: “It [charter schools] also leads to stagnant …

MEA: Too Many People Making $ Off Public Schools

MEA president made $212,848 last year

… Cook's comment is a reference to the private, for-profit companies that manage charter public schools. Cook made $212,848 in 2013 as president of the MEA, a private organization with annual revenues of $133 million.

Mackinac Center awarded $77K for reporting that MEA improperly took COVID-19 relief money

MEA and MESSA improperly took $12.5 million in COVID relief money through Paycheck Protection Program

… Mackinac Center’s favor. The MEA and its affiliate must pay $200,000 … 501(c)(5) nonprofits like the MEA or 501(c)(9) nonprofits like … anyway. In April 2020, the MEA and MESSA both applied for PPP funding. The MEA received $6.4 million while … its action because when the MEA and MESSA took the funds, that …

Michigan School Employees Can Officially Resign from Their Union at Any Time

Supreme Court rejects MEA’S ‘August window’ appeal

… hear an appeal related to the MEA’s attempt to reinstate its “August … limitation was illegal. “The MEA’s efforts to limit school employees’ … case. “Unfortunately, the MEA’s campaign has caused significant … agency or court because of the MEA’s hardline tactics.” From 2014 to 2016, the MEA received $241,977 from a collections …

Mackinac Center on Sean Hannity Show

Attorney, teacher discuss MEA bullying

… unions and the Michigan Education Association over the refusal by the unions to allow the educators to exercise their worker freedom rights. The MEA's insistence that its bylaws trump Michigan's right-to-work law have also been the subject of recent hearings before a special committee in the Michigan …

RTW 'Freeloader' Claim Still a Farce

MEA is the one freeloading off of teachers

… them at the bargaining table. Still, no private organization should have to provide benefits to people who aren’t paying for them. But a look at the MEA’s just-released financial reports shows it is the union that is freeloading off of dues-paying members. According to the organization’s LM-2 form, just …

MEA Still Chasing Thousands Not Paying Dues Or Fees

Union says 7,000 not paying; MEA members can leave the union only during month of August

… union despite promises by the MEA that it will send debt collectors … Policy, said he thinks the MEA could lose as many as 10,000 … Last week, Doug Pratt, the MEA's director of member and political … This comes three months after MEA Executive Director Gretchen … Wright said. Neither Pratt, nor MEA Spokeswoman Nancy Knight responded …

Michigan Education Digest

Teachers leaving the MEA, Benton Harbor overspending crisis

The latest version of Michigan Education Digest is available at https://www.mackinac.org/20378. Topics include how teachers can resign from the MEA, the overspending crisis in the Benton Harbor school district and support for a new charter public school in Jackson.

Vernuccio, Spalding on WILS in Lansing

Discussed MEA attacks on teachers, charter schools

… Lansing recently. Labor Policy Director F. Vincent Vernuccio discussed the MEA’s so-called “August window” and how teachers can opt out of the union, particularly those who the MEA has sent to collections agencies. Vernuccio also discussed the matter on …

MERC Decision Publicized in State Media

MEA's "August Window" ruled illegal by commission

… ruling the August Window illegal. The MEA is expected to appeal this decision … the initial ruling last year, but the MEA appealed. The Michigan Employment Relations … upheld that decision today.… "The MEA should stop trying to ruin teachers' … those who do not want to be part of the MEA," Patrick Wright, director of the Mackinac …

Michigan Education Digest

Charter school success, MEA politics

… new issue of Michigan Education Digest is now available. Topics include charter public school success, Flint’s self-created overspending crisis and MEA politics.

State’s Largest Teachers Union Offloads Some Pension Obligations Onto Taxpayers

MEA’s own unfunded pension liabilities now stand at $130.3 million

… would probably be more if the MEA had not worked out a scheme … payouts when they retire. The MEA reimburses the school districts … unfunded liability in the MEA’s own retirement system suggests … underfunding. In its annual audit, the MEA said it provides a defined benefit … virtually all of its employees. The MEA also offers a 401(k)-type plan …

Teachers Union Said They Were Done Losing Members (They’ve Lost 17K Since)

MEA membership is down to 90,000 from 117,000 before right-to-work

… losing members. The Michigan Education Association (MEA) had spent those two years erecting obstacles to … annual reports with the federal government, and the MEA’s most recent one was released this week. It reveals … have left the union in the two years since the MEA said it expected no further declines. That’s nearly …

School Employees Testify at Senate Hearing

MEA hid opt out information from them

… Compliance and Accountability Committee regarding the MEA’s failure to allow members to resign as per their … she didn’t want me to get into trouble with the MEA,” Amy Breza, a paraeducator from Clarkston, told … behalf of eight public school employees against the MEA.

Center Attorney on FOX2 Detroit

Discussing teacher complaints against MEA

… filed unfair labor practice complaints against the Michigan Education Association.  The clients feel they are being bullied and intimidated by the MEA for attempting to exercise their worker freedom rights.

August Opt Out Featured in Detroit News

MEA window "can be extremely confusing"

… inform teachers of their options, the Center has created www.Augustoptout.org, a website that includes testimonials from teachers who have left the MEA and a sample form letter that teachers can use to resign from the union.

MCLF Client Featured in Oakland Press

Possible plaintiff in federal suit against MEA

… right-to-work, but she wants to explore her First Amendment rights into become in agency fee payer immediately,” MCLF Director Patrick J. Wright said. The MEA’s bylaw forcing members to only resign in August “is trampling all over her freedom of association.”

MEA Document Provides Interesting Details

… school employees union is required to file with the federal Department of Labor. Olson’s investigation of the document found that while the number of MEA members in Michigan is going down, the union is collecting more revenues but spending less time representing its members compared to 2005. The interview …

Fact Checking the MEA President

Michigan Capitol Confidential today looks at claims by MEA President Steven Cook regarding teacher pay. There’s also a case study of teacher benefits and be sure to watch the video of economist Thomas Sowell discussing welfare.

Union Sues Teacher For Exercising Her Right-To-Work Option

Michigan banned compulsory union fees in 2013, MEA still trying to collect them

… union. In April 2018, the MEA sued Digneit, claiming she owed … dues or fees. Even so, the MEA and other unions have used various … she sent two letters to the MEA in August 2015 expressing her … Foundation, which responded to the MEA’s lawsuit on behalf of Digneit, … right-to-work law and therefore, the MEA cannot collect union dues for …

Commentary: MEA Shock! Mackinac Center and FDR Agree — Ban Government Collective Bargaining

… largest government employee union, the MEA teachers union, is expressing shock … which in practical terms means no more MEA.” It’s a good thing the union bosses … collective bargaining ban “means no more MEA” was incomplete. Of course the MEA would be perfectly free to carry on …

Wright Joins Beckmann to Discuss August Window Win

MEA may not enforce August Window while waiting for appeal

… administrative law judge and found the MEA's August window (the policy of … August) illegal. MERC ordered the MEA to begin taking resignations year round, but the MEA filed with the Court of Appeals, … Court of Appeals denied the MEA's request for a stay, meaning that in the MEA's own words, it must accept all …

Media Details Center Efforts to Help Teachers

New website can help teachers opt out of the MEA

… labor policy, told WJRT. The MEA claims its bylaws trump state … resign. “We are trying to inform MEA union members any way we can … Schools who opted out of the MEA, sent an email to teachers across … testimonials from other former MEA members about why they chose … the resignation information. MEA President Steve Cook in a YouTube …

Teachers vote to remove union from charter school

"It is important we focus on what is best for children"

… Michigan Education Association (MEA) as their bargaining representative. … said they did not like the MEA's adversarial approach to relations … teacher at the academy. The MEA organized the teachers at Island … that year about joining the MEA. "Their major concern was that … resigned from the school. The MEA had filed an unfair labor practice …

An Answer to the MEA's Lawsuit

Expand the union dues collection ban

… will not collect dues for them.) The MEA union lawsuit is based on precedent … status as professionals. But the entire MEA lawsuit evaporates if the law were … longer matters. That's not to say that MEA's lawyers won't file another lawsuit, … court eventually, but in one sense the MEA's attorneys have a point: nearly the …

Teacher Speaks Out on Union Bullying

MEA will go after 8,000 teachers not paying dues

… "I am very thankful that the MEA has finally recognized my right … Arthur is now free from the MEA, told The Press. "This is not … practice complaints against the MEA on behalf of Chanski, Arthur … filed by another teacher, the MEA admitted that about 8,000 teachers … of its "e-dues" system. The MEA also said it has created a policy …

Wright on the Beckman Show

MEA president earning taxpayer-funded pension.

… President for Legal Affairs Patrick Wright was a guest on the “The Frank Beckman Show” of WJR Radio to discuss the Mackinac Center’s investigation of the MEA President Steve Cook’s pension. Steve Cook appears to be earning a taxpayer-funded pension as an “employee” of the Lansing School District, despite …

More Teachers Than Ever Now Know Opt-Out Rights

Courageous teachers stood up to MEA bullying

… even from the president of the MEA, but they stood firm in their … be. For two teachers, the MEA finally recognized their rights … had never heard of before. An MEA official testified under oath … teachers to learn about the MEA’s formerly non-publicized policy … wrong. We’ve seen where the MEA sent a misleading “Nonmember …

You Had to Figure This Would Happen...

MEA lawyers blocking labor law reforms

Anyone who is particularly surprised by the MEA's decision to file a lawsuit to block implementation … is anything but.  As we've explained before, the MEA in particular has benefitted from a labor law that … but hardly the end of the union movement. The MEA, which is used to having its dues money collected …

MEA Charging Members Extra To Cover Retirement Liabilities For Union's Employees

While MEA fights changing state pension system, union has trouble with its own underfunding

… familiar with the fees. The MEA is in the red for $159.3 million … plan for its employees. The MEA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The MEA has 117,000 active members and … about $17.5 million. The MEA's retirement liabilities for … contribution, 401(k)-type accounts. The MEA has long fought against closing …

Absent MEA Action, State Could Step In

MEA ducks question about having state inform members about right-to-work law

… department inform union members, an MEA spokesman started to answer … looking into allegations that the MEA is not fully complying with … However, getting out of the MEA has proven to be a tricky proposition … the state. According to the MEA, its members can only leave … union in August by informing MEA officials in writing of their …

MEA employee salaries well above teachers'

Highly paid union officials oppose cost-saving measures for schools

… in additional disbursements. MEA President Lu Battaglieri received … including travel and a car. The MEA disclosed that it spent nearly … $457 in annual dues to the MEA, plus another $123 to the MEA's parent organization, the National … Grand Rapids Press, "These (MEA) guys plead poverty, and they …

Welcome to Bizarro World

Actually, its the MEA's world. We just pay for it.

… arrangements — but Corliss, an MEA member, misses the main point … political and very leftish MEA into some sort of free-market, … chase. Which is where the MEA comes in. The MEA has taken a firm position against … prefers to bargain for. The MEA’s position is essentially that …

Mackinac Center Will Represent Teacher Suing MEA For Keeping Him In Union

Mackinac Center representing teacher suing MEA

… Relations Commission against the MEA. He took that step after the MEA and its local affiliate sent … the union anything, so the MEA pursuing me for fees is harassment.” … subject to right-to-work, the MEA and AAEA are trying to force … agreements later, it’s time for the MEA to admit that Ann Arbor teachers …

Who’s the Freeloader? MEA Spends More On Benefits Than Bargaining

Union member: 'I hope the MEA wants to win back the loyalty of its former members'

… right-to-work law to leave the MEA. Now Fairfield is one of a group of teachers MEA President Steve Cook refers … "freeloaders." Although he left the MEA, Fairfield said he gave a financial … he invested heavily in the MEA, but felt the union wasn't always … example, Fairfield said the MEA representative who negotiated …

Roscommon Teachers Quit MEA

… 2-to-1 margin to leave the MEA and form their own local union. … they were forced to pay the MEA, and said their new association … Capitol Confidential that the MEA is “a bureaucratic machine that … Grand Haven Tribune that the MEA had "priced themselves out of … reported on the development. The MEA has yet to comment.

Lawsuit Filed Against MEA Over Dues Policies, 'Fair Representation'

Novi teacher joins others from across the state suing the MEA to try to get out of the union

… her behalf. Bank is suing the MEA because the union has a "duty … employees to pay annual dues to the MEA, Wright said. "The union has … group of teachers suing the MEA, the union presented a new dues … policy, which outlines how the MEA will use a collection agency … past due in paying. If the MEA sticks to its policy, it will …

Former MEA Local Prez: Union May Lose 40% of Members – Including Him – if Teacher Right to Work Passes

… teachers would bolt from the MEA. The reason? He says some don’t … also noted news reports of MEA officials getting hefty raises … their money to East Lansing (MEA headquarters) and not getting … teachers union would replace the MEA, which he said was “a guardian … Association, the parent union of the MEA, is spending their dues on issues …

Teachers Union Membership Down 20 Percent, But Executive's Pay up $61,000

Union officer's pay hikes also part of school pension-spiking scheme

… 2011 to work full time for the MEA. The school district says it … also been implemented by other MEA officials, but the Republican-controlled … through and the bill died. The MEA did not respond to questions … law went into effect, the MEA’s membership was 113,147. In … 19.9 percent. In 2014, the MEA disputed Michigan Capitol Confidential’s …

Union Touts Liability Insurance As Perk; Costs $4.35 A Year Per Member

Teachers don't have to rely on MEA for coverage

… the money they pay in dues. MEA members pay about $635 a year … year for most members. The MEA recently highlighted one benefit, the … to offer that benefit. The MEA revealed the cost last week … coverage has been promoted on the MEA's website and further highlighted in numerous local MEA affiliate newsletters. "That …

10 Stories Showing Why Mandatory Government Collective Bargaining Is Counterproductive

… CapCon commentator Jack McHugh wrote, “Our goal is (to) outlaw government collective bargaining in Michigan, which in practical terms means no more MEA.” Despite wariness of public-sector unionization by progressives like President Franklin D. Roosevelt and former AFL-CIO  union leader George Meany, …

Teachers Union Spends Little of Its Funds on Bargaining

MEA spends only 10 percent of funds on 'representational activities'

… past 10 years, the most the MEA has spent on negotiating and … their jobs. One of the ways the MEA has responded to the new law … went into effect in 2013, the MEA and some school districts extended … by the labor organization. MEA officials didn’t respond to … represents 10 percent of the MEA’s total receipts of $124.2 million …