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Nearly every aspect of a teacher's job falls under the rules of a union contract. The following are analyses of the current collective bargaining agreements for teachers and a few other employee groups in select Michigan school districts.

These Parents And Children Looking For Alternatives After Virtual Instruction Failed Them

Schools’ poor pandemic performance has changed their relationship with parents and the public

Dawson Bell | June 15, 2021

Union Complains About New Teachers’ Low Pay - In Contracts It Negotiated

It’s a trade-off: Pay starts low and rises quickly as seniority builds

Tom Gantert | May 14, 2021

Institutionalized Obfuscation By School Spending Advocates

Ignoring 29% of Detroit school funding lets this official claim institutional racism

Tom Gantert | April 30, 2021

Officials Take Credit When Pandemic Ebbs, Blame The People For Surges

Beware a government with a ‘vision of sick people as the enemy’ warned ACLU in 2008

Tom Gantert | April 19, 2021

Former Gov. Jennifer Granholm Oversaw Parade Of Failed Green Energy Boondoggles

Would-be energy secretary’s record not promising

Jarrett Skorup | December 21, 2020

In the ‘Birthplace of Organized Labor,’ Union Membership Plummets

Since Michigan's right-to-work law was adopted organized labor struggles to retain dues-paying members

Jarrett Skorup | October 31, 2020

Second Wave Agony: Maybe The State’s Epidemic Policy Is To Blame, Not Its People

Officials scold the public, but a growing chorus of scientists say it’s politicians who are blowing it

Tom Gantert | October 30, 2020

Underfunded? Detroit Is State's 15th Best Funded Larger School District

Gets less from some sources and more from others

Tom Gantert | August 29, 2020

Five School Options For Parents And Children This Fall

But nothing is certain

Parker Thayer | July 30, 2020

Costly Drugs For Rare Diseases A Moral Dilemma For Society

A life-and-death issue for some

Parker Thayer | June 28, 2020

Possible Fire Sprinkler License Would Be Nation's Most Restrictive

‘Work experience’ requirement exceeds requirements for practicing law

Madeline Peltzer | July 15, 2019

Homeowner: Are All Uses Not ‘Permitted’ By Zoning Forbidden?

That’s what one Michigan city appears to claim

Dawson Bell | March 14, 2019

Respected Think Tank Shatters Michigan ‘Teacher Shortage’ Myth

Uncritical media has repeated this false teachers union claim

Tom Gantert | February 26, 2019

Michigan School Funding ‘Dead Last’? Watch That Methodology

Third in a series of how claims about public school revenue claims are often misleading

Tom Gantert | February 11, 2019

One Source Of School Finance Confusion: ‘Equity In School Funding’

Second in a series of how claims about public school revenue claims are often misleading

Tom Gantert | February 9, 2019

Warning: Michigan School Finance Is Complicated

It’s also confusing, and spending interests often don’t tell the whole story

Tom Gantert | February 8, 2019

Diversity Programs Big Business at U-M

University pays $11 million to 93 diversity program administrators

Derek Draplin | February 4, 2019

School Budgets Caught A Cold In 2000s, But Michigan Taxpayers Suffered Economic Pneumonia

Spending advocates’ budget comparisons ignore how Michigan’s ‘lost decade’ crushed taxpayers

Tom Gantert | January 30, 2019

Michigan’s Electric Companies Sign Onto Green Agenda

Expect costlier and less reliable electric power supplies

Evan Carter | December 31, 2018

Michigan Schools And Families Were Hurt By 800,000 Lost Jobs

Public school establishment complaining about cuts that happened 10 years ago

Tom Gantert | November 12, 2018

Utility’s Plan To Replace Coal With Solar Passes Regulatory Hurdle

Regulators advance it a step, but cost and reliability concerns remain

Evan Carter | October 8, 2018

U-M Research Guide Leans Left On ‘Fake News’ And Media Bias

Watching academia's taxpayer-funded media watchers

Tom Gantert | August 28, 2018

Gov. Rick Snyder’s Fiscal Policy Legacy

A review

James M. Hohman | July 28, 2018

This Michigan Utility Is Planning Your Energy Future

We’ll be much more dependent on intermittent power sources and buying electricity from out of state

Evan Carter | July 23, 2018

By Honoring Football Anthem Protests, Union Dishonors Teachers Who Dissent

Example of how NEA’s compulsory dues violated teachers First Amendment rights

Tom Gantert | July 6, 2018

Dems Get 99.9 Percent of 2018 Teacher Union Political Cash

But an imminent Supreme Court ruling could make unions more sensitive to GOP members

Tom Gantert | June 21, 2018

Detroit’s Tax-Related Debt To Wayne County Down $70 Million Since 2010

$4 billion drop in property values plays a role

Aaron Lehman | June 19, 2018

Despite Positive Buzz For Detroit, Downward Population Trend Continues

Moves of some corporate headquarters help the city but haven’t ushered in a new age

Evan Carter | June 8, 2018

Even In Low-Paying School Districts, It’s Hard To Beat Teacher Pay And Benefits

Teaching may have its frustrations, but total compensation in Michigan public schools isn’t bad

Tom Gantert | June 1, 2018

Michigan Dems Don’t Like Current Policies, Ignore Facts About What Came Before

State’s economy worse now than during ‘Lost Decade’? Data tells very different story

Tom Gantert | May 29, 2018

Union In Potential Landmark Case Gave To Sharpton, Progressives, Dem Party

Supreme Court ruling expected on state worker’s claim that government unions inherently political

Evan Carter | May 18, 2018

Special Tax Breaks For Privileged Firms Means Money Comes From Someone Else

Who do you think pays instead?

Tom Gantert | April 17, 2018

Despite Right-To-Work Laws, Unions Find Ways Make Workers Keep Paying

Michigan courts shut down one such tactic, but unions try others

Jack McHugh | April 16, 2018

For Each Gallon Of Water Michigan’s People Use, 288 Gallons Fall From The Sky

Really big-sounding water consumption figures appear much smaller when put in perspective

Tom Gantert | April 12, 2018

Average Teacher Pay Doesn’t Support Liberal Site’s Narrative? Use It Anyway

Vox says never mind, the narrative is right nationwide if not in every state

Tom Gantert | March 24, 2018

DTE Earns Big Gas Pipeline Profits, Lobbied For More Gas-Fired Electricity

‘More renewables’ and ‘less coal’ means more gas, and DTE is big in the gas business

Michigan Capitol Confidential Staff Reports | March 7, 2018

Getting Harder For Union To Spread Teacher Pay Disinformation

'Taxpayers have a right to know where government funds are going and to whom'

Tom Gantert | February 27, 2018

Did School Choice Opposition Help Doom Detroit’s Bid For Amazon HQ?

Charters are city’s most promising schools yet face significant political opposition

Tom Gantert | February 15, 2018

Media Plays Games, Misleads Readers When Its Target Is School Choice

Public Radio labels a charter school opponent as ‘pro-school choice’

Tom Gantert | January 29, 2018

DTE Produces Enough Wind Power To Run 24,000 Homes - But Part Of The Day Only

Oh, you wanted electricity 24/7?

Tom Gantert | January 15, 2018

Teacher Shortage Claims: Republicans Did It

Yet hundreds often apply for teacher openings, and 2,045 for one in Troy

Tom Gantert | January 10, 2018

Past Mistakes Haunt Builder Trying to Find Work

Michigan’s occupational licensure mandate can permanently impair those with criminal records

Jarrett Skorup | December 22, 2017

Charters Schools ‘Segregated’? Children Only Attend If Their Parents Choose

That’s a challenge for opponents dredging up invalid Jim Crow associations

Tom Gantert | December 11, 2017

Are Any Left? 100 Years Of ‘Michigan Teacher Shortage’ Headlines

Media keeps publishing the dubious claim, so public school establishment keeps repeating it

Tom Gantert | November 29, 2017

The Most Bizarre Licenses in Michigan

Potato dealers, foresters, butter graders and more

Jarrett Skorup | November 21, 2017

Insurance Reform Opponents Spin 'No' Votes; Drivers Just Want Rate Relief

Now what? Some special interests have reason to celebrate the high-cost status quo

Tom Gantert | November 6, 2017

Now what? Some special interests have reason to celebrate the high-cost status quo

Spending And Tax Collections Up, But East Lansing Still Asks For Local Income Tax

Value of real estate in the city — its related tax collections — are higher now than before the housing bubble

Tom Gantert | November 2, 2017

Fake News: HuffPost Article on DeVos Filled With Mistruths

Union officials presented simply as ‘teachers,’ hedge funds bizarrely linked to charter schools

Tom Gantert | October 30, 2017

Rep. Sam Singh Says He Opposes Corporate Giveaways; His Voting Record Says Otherwise

Out of dozens of votes, it’s hard to find the Democrat opposing favoritism for select companies

Tom Gantert | October 20, 2017

Meet The New Teachers Union Myths, Same As The Old Ones

New MEA leadership team promote old one’s false narratives in a ‘listening tour’

Tom Gantert | September 18, 2017

More Inaccuracies in New York Times Attack on Michigan Charter Schools

Fourth in a series. NY Times article gets wrong the number of charters that engage for-profit managers

Tom Gantert | September 12, 2017

False Claims, Inaccuracies Rife in New York Times Article On Michigan Charter Schools

First in a series exposing NYT Magazine’s sloppy and/ or agenda-driven coverage

Tom Gantert | September 8, 2017

It’s Labor Day, But Union Officials May Not Be Celebrating

The percentage of workers who are union members is down almost 50 percent since 1983

Tom Gantert | September 4, 2017

Change In Regulations On Electricity Markets Could Hit Schools

A law that lets one district save $40 per student on electricity costs could be undermined

Jacob Weaver and Jason Hayes | August 29, 2017

Holland Going Into The Broadband Business

City plans to make its numbers by undercutting private sector competitors

Evan Carter | August 23, 2017

School Officials, Teachers Unions, Media All Complicit In Edu-Disinformation

The effect is to undermine recent reforms opposed by unions

Tom Gantert | August 7, 2017

Most Teacher Salaries Are Increasing

According to the best data available on teacher pay

Tom Gantert | July 27, 2017

There You Go Again: Teachers Union Spins Misleading Food Stamp Claim

Average $60K teacher would need a household size of 10 to qualify

Tom Gantert | June 24, 2017

Government Internet Coming to Traverse City

Taxpayers on the hook for risky broadband plan

Evan Carter | June 19, 2017

Schools in Poorer Towns ‘Poorly Funded’ — If You Don't Count All Their Funding

State union cites Rutgers study, national union gave gifts to authors’ employers

Tom Gantert | May 6, 2017

Election Today! And Plenty of Taxpayer-Funded Electioneering, Too

Schools and local governments drive trucks through election-law loophole

Tom Gantert | May 2, 2017

Taxpayer Funded Electioneering in Full Swing Before May 2 Tax Votes

Officials claim messages ‘presenting factual information’ (wink, wink)

Tom Gantert | April 24, 2017

Property Tax Bills May Spike Due To School Pension Underfunding

Sales pitch varies for May 2 school tax hike votes, but underfunded pension gorilla lurks behind all

Tom Gantert | April 11, 2017

School Claims Its Tax Hike Emails Don't Invade Privacy - but Opponent's Would

No one gets to ask, ‘Why is the district NOT in need of tax hike?’

Tom Gantert | April 10, 2017

Union Rules: Ineffective Teacher's Raise is 4x That of 'Teacher Of The Year'

Recent top educator got a $400 bump, colleague rated 'ineffective' got $1,836

Tom Gantert | March 17, 2017

Michigan Will Soon Restrict Real Estate Agents When Displaying Their Names

New state licensing rules called anti-competitive

Jarrett Skorup | March 13, 2017

Close Failing Public Schools? Not In Michigan — Yet

Charter schools are closed for poor academic progress, but not conventional district schools

Tom Gantert | February 22, 2017

DeVos, Charters, School Choice Threaten Democratic Party Finances

Follow the money: Fewer dues to teachers unions, fewer dollars for Democrats

Tom Gantert | January 19, 2017

DeVos Attacked For Supporting Free Speech, Due Process On Campus

Group she supported exposed the checkered free-speech record of Michigan universities

Derek Draplin | January 18, 2017

State Officials Caused Michigan's Pension Crisis

No accident that school pension system is underwater

Tom Gantert | January 16, 2017

Truth Optional When Teachers Union Defends Its Turf

Union goes to lengths to protect its piece of public education pie

Tom Gantert | January 5, 2017

Bullying Failed, So Teachers Union May Try Honey To Attract Dues Payments

Bill collectors out, membership engagement director in

Tom Gantert | December 28, 2016

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