Tag: Indentured Servitude

As August rounds the mid-mark, any Teachers in Michigan wishing to terminate dues paying to the union they might feel does NOT represent them should take note. The MEA is going to make it as hard as possible to consider your options.  The statement by MEA President Steve Cook that the union would use

"any legal means at our disposal"

Cook should note that some of those within the union might well have been willing to wait and see if the union would attempt to be more representative, given the circumstance.  Instead, it doubles down, and drives home the reason that Freedom-To-Work is now law; that an out of touch overpaid political machine exists within its (the MEA's)ranks. Cook is an example of lousy leadership that has no expectation of capitulating to law or common sense with regard to the treatment of those who pay his six-figure income.

OK. Fine.

For those of you who feel pressured to make that decision within the next two weeks?  The Mackinac Center has provided a means by which you can tell Cook to go to the back of the lunch line. A prepared and downloadable opt-out letter that tells him where to stuff it. (here is a sample I did in 30 seconds)

The possibility of Right-To-Work legislation in a state considered so incredibly 'hands off' was too unbelievable, that even the national right to work folks scoffed at those of us conferencing in Lansing were preparing it.  They were planning some help for Indiana and possibly Ohio, but Michigan? No way.

We persisted, and believing the governor's pre-election pledge that if it came before him, he would sign it, daily efforts were made to advance this important freedom, and relief from organized labor's non-accountability. It was focused, and had too many parts that would eventually lead to its successful passage, to give credit to one entity, or idea or effort. All hands were on deck, and the trick was getting it in front of the governor to sign.

Which he did.  And we thank him for honoring his promise.

While the fight to KEEP it will go on for a couple of years, we should celebrate this point in time with vigor.

That debate is whether or not to advance contracts for bargaining units so that those units will operate under a closed shop for as long as possible.  Union leadership, in order to extend their hold on the workers is willing to concede items already won.  Public sector employers, seeing an opportunity to get concessions not so easily given before, is eager to capitulate. By golly taxpayers are well served, right? Win Win, right? Right?

I guess its a matter of perspective.  

For the employees, they get to find out how well they have been served by their bargaining masters.  Being locked in so that they can lose a perk or two, and with an added bonus of having several more years of unaccountability?  A BARGAIN at half the price!

Even a contract signed as recently as November can be reopened and dealt away on the basis of expected health benefits costs, and a college which hopes to limit its exposure

" MCAAP and MCCFO took the offer, he surmised, because they were going to be subject to the health care changes before the end of 2013 anyway."

A few more shekels out of the employees pockets, so that they may remain the property of the union for an additional 5 months.