I mentioned earlier about a particularly nasty strike that took place back in the late 90's which devastated the local papers in Detroit.

No, the papers didn't go out of business because of it.

But the quality of their final product along with its circulation was never the same. The unions didn't fare much better, especially with an open shop clause.

Well, one of the things that I didn't mention was that what passes for union "leadership" in that particular example did make plan prior to the beginning of that particular strike.

Among the things they told their membership was to get their financial affairs in order and to watch their expenses in the months leading up to that strike. Kind of like what Michigan Education Association President Iris Salters told her membership two weeks ago.

This story apparently has legs now, because the Detroit Free Press decided to write about it today as well.

Even though the word going round town is that someone is calling for a rally up in Lansing pretty much every day beginning next week and through the entire month of April, this goes way, way beyond what is normally done for something so minor as a protest rally, work slowdown or sick day.

And with comments like this,

"The letter was sent to members last week and followed one sent to local union presidents asking them to hold votes by April 15 that could allow the MEA to authorize job actions up to and including strikes.

MEA spokesman Doug Pratt said the advice to teachers is intended not only for them to prepare for the worst regarding a possible job action, but also to prepare for massive layoffs as districts deal with possible state funding cuts."

it is a very safe bet that there's a strike in the offing. Penalties be damned.