CTA Issues Conference “Message from Michigan: How to Unite our Members in a World without Fair Share ” Michigan and Right T o Work Michigan Presenters: Kia Hagens, UniServ Director Tom Greig, UniServ Director Renaye Baker, UniServ Director
History 1970’s and 80’s • Voucher attempt in 1978 — failed • The reign of John Engler begins —1980’s • Resented the political influence the MEA had on state politics • Mackinac Center begins — 1987 • First emergency manager laws--1988
History 1990’s Gov. Engler robs teachers pension fund to balance the state budget Never returns it to the fund — leaving an unfunded liability in the system — hence members having to pay more into the program now. Strike laws implemented to almost totally take school employees striking rights away — 1994
History 1990’s cont. First erosion of PERA-taking collective bargaining rights away from school employees — 1994 Forced imposition when bargaining reaches impasse Push begins for the Charter School initiative — 1994 Proposal A — K-12 finance reform — state controlled and distributed. Local control over financial resources limited
History 2000’s o Voucher attempt again made — failed — 2000 o DeVos’ Family along with Engler attempt to privatize schools o Republicans begin push to decrease school funding throughout the rest of the decade o Tying money to best practices o Earmarking money for particular use to keep from using them for increased school employee wages
History 2010’s PAC contributions no longer can be made through school payroll deduction Teacher Evaluation System Reform — 2010 Erosion of collective bargaining rights Republicans control the state house, senate, governor position and supreme court — January 2011 Rename Emergency Manager to Emergency Financial Managers — broadening authority over local governments — March 2011
History 2010’s cont. Reduced school funding by $1,000,000,000 — PA 62 — June of 2011 Forced prohibition of increased compensation prior to successor agreements reached — June 2011 Freezes wages and increases health care costs to school employees after contract expires Bans bargaining for retroactivity Prohibited subjects of bargaining: evaluation, discipline, lay-off/recall seniority, assignments, merit pay, etc. — July 2011 Change to tenure laws — July 2011 Just Cause to now Arbitrary and Capricious standards
History 2010’s cont. Forced Health Insurance Premium Share — 20% or hard cap — September 2011 Erosion of collective bargaining rights Eliminated cap on Charter Schools — PA 277 — March 2012 Forced auditing of local school union finances — March 2012 Prohibition of schools to use payroll deduction for union dues — March 2012
History 2010’s cont. Allowed students to receive state aid for college level courses while in high school — PA 131 — July of 2012 Pension reform — shifting more cost to individual school employees and districts — 3%--September 2012 New members have no health care benefits upon retirement in the future — PA 300
History 2010’s cont. Voters repeal Emergency Financial Manager law — November 2012 Voters defeat attempt at constitutional provision to guarantee collective bargaining rights for school employees — November 2012
History 2010’s cont. Expanded the number of cyber schools — PA 129 — October 2013 Expanded the Education Achievement Authority (EAA) — Spring of 2014 Continued to reduce school funding Exempts development property from 18 mils non- homestead school property tax — PA 204 Eliminated a portion of sales tax on cars, boats, and recreational vehicles — PA 159 — net loss of $330,000,000 — December of 2013
History 2010’s Lame Duck: Legislators re-enact Emergency Manager laws — December 2012 Right to Work legislation passed by legislators — December 2012
ALEC Influence Voucher initiatives — government subsidize private schools Increase number of charter schools Defund public schools — creating a financial crisis allowing the take over with private charter schools
ALEC Influence Academic achievement goals unattainable to create crisis allowing the take over with private charter schools Eliminating certification of teachers Elimination of teacher tenure
ALEC Influence Erode away/eliminate collective bargaining rights for public sector unions Defund public sector unions Right to Work Laws Erode away public sector retirement pensions
Changing MEA Culture Moving from a… Predominately Service Delivery Model to a Predominately Organizing Model
Struggles Experienced: Membership Decline due to Privatization and Reduction of School Staffs to Save Money New Method of Collection of Dues Increasing the Engagement of Members Getting Members to Advocate for Themselves Members Now Able to Opt Out of the Union Balancing Union Service with Organizing/Member Engagement
Struggles Experienced • Loss of Membership to RTW • Active Campaign by the American for Prosperity and the Mackinaw Center We see as one of the MEA’s Victories: We have only lost approximately 5% of the membership to this effort
Future Challenges • 2014 Election Lame Duck Session in December 2014 Continued Legal Challenges Increasing Member Involvement Providing Same Quality of Services with Dwindling Financial Resources Getting members that opted out and future new members to rejoin/join the union
Future Opportunities Members will be more engaged Members will be more informed Members will advocate more for themselves and their colleagues Members will care more about the survival of the organization Members will feel the “Power of We” instead of the power of me.
Ideas to Engage Members Social Events Trainings Leader Ideas UniServ Director Ideas
Questions and Discussion
Recommend
More recommend
