Tag: RTW

The foundation explains:

"The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation is filing a lawsuit on behalf of Miriam Chanski and several other plaintiffs against the Michigan Education Association over the union's misreading of Michigan's right-to-work law. The union is enforcing an outdated policy referred to as the "August Window," which limits members' ability to exercise their first amendment rights to one month out of the year.  .. "

"On March 26, 2013 WB-RC officials offered a $10,000 buyout for any qualifying teacher who left the school district that year, an incentive superintendent Dan Cwayna said the district had used in the past to encourage needed staff reductions.

While its not clear when Erickson's employment was terminated, the union's action suggests he was still on the payroll when the buyout was offered and accepted it.

The school district declined to pay him the money, prompting the union's action."

In the side twitter bar the question

"What? After paying for #AFP/#RTW #Tentgate 2012 Dick DeVos' Greg McNeilly now anti-#MITeaParty?"

appears.

Having been a part of the RTW/FTW effort, I must say I was quite pleased with the impetus placed on FTW in Dec 2012 by Dick DeVos and Ron Weiser, without which, it might never have happened.  But it isn't a free pass for the abuses laid out by operatives of the GOP, and in particular the MiGOP club which doubled down on the national slaparound the tea folk have been getting from media and complicit (Vichy) Republicans.

December 2012 WAS important though. Snyder at the time might have even overcome a bit of the reaction to the Prop 2 debacle by Michigan's labor unions, but a reminder that anything he had done good was outweighed by cronyism, unilateral international transactions, and the promise of tax increases that moved him.  Truthfully, if not for Weiser and DeVos RTW might never have come to be.  It never was a part of Rick Snyder's agenda, and never really will be heart-fought from ongoing union boss opposition.

Remember that.

Something those two saw that the governor could care less about, was the strength of the Tea party movement within the GOP construct.  There was a very real possibility that the governor, sans a significant policy delivery to the base, would face a primary challenge (perhaps by the sitting AG) thus creating a divide in the 'acceptable' GOP hierarchy.  The AG, already on record as opposing the Obamacare Exchanges, Medicaid Expansion, and showing significant support among the Tea types worried the power brokers.

And those "wackos" were brought under control, right?

A quick read of the article makes it seem that the Mackinac Center is suing the Teamsters to compel them to represent a non-paying employee in a grievance action. It seemed strange to read:

"The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation filed a lawsuit Thursday on behalf of four former Teamsters union workers who say charging them a fee to file a grievance because they opted out of paying dues is in violation of the right-to-work law passed in December.

Teamsters Local 214 in the city of Dearborn said effective July 1, it would charge $150 to employees who opted out of paying union dues to file a grievance, according to the lawsuit. .."

Gantert's story DOES reference the key:

"The lawsuit contends that even though the four employees no longer pay dues, they still are forced to be represented by the union."

The real story lies elsewhere.

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 Detroit News captures union thugs tearing down an Americans For Prosperity tent during a protest against Michigan's new Right To Work law.

The folks who are in the midst of the Freedom to work battle, and occupying the AFP tents.  To the high power individuals who stepped up and put this over the top. To the folks who are in the midst of deliberations, and will have to endure the phone assaults, curses, and procedural tortures ad nauseum. And to our state police who will be expected to keep the peace with little or no help from Virg Bernero's personal security detail (the Lansing Police). To the folks at home giving strength to our besieged legislators. And last but not least, to the the workers who have endured the dignity robbing pain of supporting illicit and unacceptable political agendas of union leadership, simply for wishing to put food on their families' table.

God bless you all tomorrow, and going forward.