Michigan Attempts to Crush Teachers Unions

[Modern School]

A House committee of the Republican Michigan Legislature approved legislation this week banning school districts from deducting union dues from teachers’ pay, according to the Detroit News. If the legislation passes, it will serious hamper union activities by making it much more difficult for the unions to collect dues and amass war chests for organizing, lobbying and attempting to purchase politicians.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Joe Haveman, said "I don't believe the schools should be in the business of being the bill collectors for the unions." However, because of the automated payroll systems, it costs the districts virtually nothing to include union dues in the billing. Even Haveman himself admitted that the savings would be nominal.

The real motivation behind the legislation is clearly to weaken the unions. David Hecker, president of the American Federation of Teachers in Michigan was quoted by the Detroit News saying "The goal is to totally undercut the voice of teachers by totally undercutting their unions."

As if any more proof was needed, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, suggested that a "right to teach" bill would be a good idea, undermining the ability of unions to create closed shops in which all employees must become members. While it is true that Michigan and most other states do not have truly closed shops for teachers and teachers can opt out of the union, they still often get some money deducted from their paychecks for union representation and generally get the same contracts as the fully paying members. If a “right to teach” bill were successful, one likely implication would be that all teachers would have to negotiate individual contracts with their districts, without the power and benefits of collective bargaining, most likely resulting in significantly lower wages and benefits.

It should be pointed out that the automatic dues check off, while making it easier for unions to finance themselves, is certainly not necessary for a union to be effective. In fact, it may actually contribute to the bureaucratization, laziness and wimpiness of union officials. Back in the day, there was no automatic dues check off and union organizers had to collect dues from each member in person, giving them the chance to do more real organizing, listening to members’ grievances and suggestions. It forced them to be more accountable to members because they failed to make members happy, they simply refused to pay their dues.

Modern School
http://modeducation.blogspot.com/2011/09/michigan-attempts-to-crush-teachers.html

[TruthTeller]

1. Are you a MEA member? Please explain the meaning behind ...

"It should be pointed out that the automatic dues check off, while making it easier for unions to finance themselves, is certainly not necessary for a union to be effective. In fact, it may actually contribute to the bureaucratization, laziness and wimpiness of union officials. Back in the day, there was no automatic dues check off and union organizers had to collect dues from each member in person, giving them the chance to do more real organizing, listening to members’ grievances and suggestions. It forced them to be more accountable to members because they failed to make members happy, they simply refused to pay their dues."

I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt that you are a not making an assumption. I haven't seen as you describe and I was with the MEA President today.

TT

[Modern School]

3. I'm a CTA Member and Organizer

I think my point was clear: that unions, including my own, are fairly bureaucratic and wimpy in their demands and do not place enough emphasis on actual organizing. This is not to say I'm against unions. Hell, I'm an organizer! I would just like to see less dues going to political campaigns and more toward organizing, educating and agitating members so we can demolish NCLB, counter the anti-union propaganda, demand massive increases in school funding, and win universal health care and secure and comfortable wages for everyone.

Keeping the automatic dues check off would certainly be easier and safer for unions to maintain their existence and this does not exclude increasing resources toward organizing. And the attack on the dues check off is clearly a union busting move by the state to try and limit the unions' ability to finance direct union activities as well as political campaigns. It is also retaliation for the unions' support of Republican recall efforts.

[MichiganVote]

2. More punitive bullshit. Other unions in the state, including my husbands, regularly pay

their dues through the payroll department. If employers don't object what the fuck difference does not make.

Harassment and denial of collective bargaining. Just another thing that is not the goddamn business of the Michigan legislature.