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MEA: Too Many People Making $ Off Public Schools
MEA president made $212,848 last year
…
Cook's comment is a reference to the private, for-profit companies that manage charter public schools. Cook made $212,848 in 2013 as president of the MEA, a private organization with annual revenues of $133 million. more
Mackinac Center on Sean Hannity Show
Attorney, teacher discuss MEA bullying
… unions and the Michigan Education Association over the refusal by the unions to allow the educators to exercise their worker freedom rights.
The MEA's insistence that its bylaws trump Michigan's right-to-work law have also been the subject of recent hearings before a special committee in the Michigan … more
RTW 'Freeloader' Claim Still a Farce
MEA is the one freeloading off of teachers
… them at the bargaining table. Still, no private organization should have to provide benefits to people who aren’t paying for them.
But a look at the MEA’s just-released financial reports shows it is the union that is freeloading off of dues-paying members. According to the organization’s LM-2 form, just … more
Mackinac Center awarded $77K for reporting that MEA improperly took COVID-19 relief money
MEA and MESSA improperly took $12.5 million in COVID relief money through Paycheck Protection Program
… Mackinac Center’s favor. The MEA and its affiliate must pay $200,000 … 501(c)(5) nonprofits like the MEA or 501(c)(9) nonprofits like … anyway. In April 2020, the MEA and MESSA both applied for PPP funding. The MEA received $6.4 million while … its action because when the MEA and MESSA took the funds, that … more
MEA Still Chasing Thousands Not Paying Dues Or Fees
Union says 7,000 not paying; MEA members can leave the union only during month of August
… union despite promises by the MEA that it will send debt collectors … Policy, said he thinks the MEA could lose as many as 10,000 …
Last week, Doug Pratt, the MEA's director of member and political … This comes three months after MEA Executive Director Gretchen … Wright said.
Neither Pratt, nor MEA Spokeswoman Nancy Knight responded … more
New ‘Labor Voices’ Column, Same Old Teachers Union Disinformation
The new MEA president spreads the same inaccuracies as the old MEA president
… Association’s new president, Paula Herbart:
The MEA wrote: “In Utica, where teachers are working without … $7,214 per student this year, not $7,845.
The MEA wrote: “Grand Rapids school employees questioned … are 294. That’s not “exponential growth.”
The MEA wrote: “It [charter schools] also leads to stagnant … more
Teacher Speaks Out on Union Bullying
MEA will go after 8,000 teachers not paying dues
…
"I am very thankful that the MEA has finally recognized my right … Arthur is now free from the MEA, told The Press.
"This is not … practice complaints against the MEA on behalf of Chanski, Arthur … filed by another teacher, the MEA admitted that about 8,000 teachers … of its "e-dues" system. The MEA also said it has created a policy … more
More Teachers Than Ever Now Know Opt-Out Rights
Courageous teachers stood up to MEA bullying
… even from the president of the MEA, but they stood firm in their … be.
For two teachers, the MEA finally recognized their rights … had never heard of before. An MEA official testified under oath … teachers to learn about the MEA’s formerly non-publicized policy … wrong.
We’ve seen where the MEA sent a misleading “Nonmember … more
State’s Largest Teachers Union Offloads Some Pension Obligations Onto Taxpayers
MEA’s own unfunded pension liabilities now stand at $130.3 million
… would probably be more if the MEA had not worked out a scheme … payouts when they retire.
The MEA reimburses the school districts … unfunded liability in the MEA’s own retirement system suggests … underfunding. In its annual audit, the MEA said it provides a defined benefit … virtually all of its employees. The MEA also offers a 401(k)-type plan … more
Teachers Union Said They Were Done Losing Members (They’ve Lost 17K Since)
MEA membership is down to 90,000 from 117,000 before right-to-work
… losing members. The Michigan Education Association (MEA) had spent those two years erecting obstacles to … annual reports with the federal government, and the MEA’s most recent one was released this week. It reveals … have left the union in the two years since the MEA said it expected no further declines. That’s nearly … more
Commentary: MEA Shock! Mackinac Center and FDR Agree — Ban Government Collective Bargaining
… largest government employee union, the MEA teachers union, is expressing shock … which in practical terms means no more MEA.”
It’s a good thing the union bosses … collective bargaining ban “means no more MEA” was incomplete. Of course the MEA would be perfectly free to carry on … more
Union Sues Teacher For Exercising Her Right-To-Work Option
Michigan banned compulsory union fees in 2013, MEA still trying to collect them
… union.
In April 2018, the MEA sued Digneit, claiming she owed … dues or fees. Even so, the MEA and other unions have used various … she sent two letters to the MEA in August 2015 expressing her … Foundation, which responded to the MEA’s lawsuit on behalf of Digneit, … right-to-work law and therefore, the MEA cannot collect union dues for … more
Initial 'Right-to-Teach' Bill Has Problems
Singling out the MEA may even let the union escape
… it focuses too much on the MEA.
A broad right-to-work law, …
The impulse to single out the MEA is understandable; the state's … education, the bill leaves the MEA with an out: shed just enough … happens to be staffed with old MEA people. Access to MESSA-brokered … even one as problematic as the MEA — looks too much like partisan … more
MEA Charging Members Extra To Cover Retirement Liabilities For Union's Employees
While MEA fights changing state pension system, union has trouble with its own underfunding
… familiar with the fees.
The MEA is in the red for $159.3 million … plan for its employees.
The MEA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The MEA has 117,000 active members and … about $17.5 million.
The MEA's retirement liabilities for … contribution, 401(k)-type accounts. The MEA has long fought against closing … more
MEA Lawsuit May Be Against Policy That They Already Endorsed
… supported just months ago.
The MEA supported the pension contribution … Bill 1227.
On April 23, the MEA released a statement saying … 3 percent contribution, the MEA wrote: "The bill would require … under attack."
However, five MEA members objected to the 3 percent … the matter, according to the MEA.
The MEA members say the pension … more
Meet The New Teachers Union Myths, Same As The Old Ones
New MEA leadership team promote old one’s false narratives in a ‘listening tour’
Absent MEA Action, State Could Step In
MEA ducks question about having state inform members about right-to-work law
… department inform union members, an MEA spokesman started to answer … looking into allegations that the MEA is not fully complying with … However, getting out of the MEA has proven to be a tricky proposition … the state.
According to the MEA, its members can only leave … union in August by informing MEA officials in writing of their … more
GOP Fumbles: On Verge of Giving MEA Huge Pension Win
… by the reform. Not surprisingly, the MEA circled the wagons and sent in its … majority of GOP legislators feared the MEA's political power. Nevertheless, the … unfunded liabilities, and save the MEA teachers union from what would have …
House GOP on Verge of Surrendering to MEA
Study Finds That Teacher Pension Plan … more
Teachers Union Membership Down 20 Percent, But Executive's Pay up $61,000
Union officer's pay hikes also part of school pension-spiking scheme
… 2011 to work full time for the MEA.
The school district says it … also been implemented by other MEA officials, but the Republican-controlled … through and the bill died.
The MEA did not respond to questions … law went into effect, the MEA’s membership was 113,147. In … 19.9 percent.
In 2014, the MEA disputed Michigan Capitol Confidential’s … more
Who’s the Freeloader? MEA Spends More On Benefits Than Bargaining
Union member: 'I hope the MEA wants to win back the loyalty of its former members'
… right-to-work law to leave the MEA.
Now Fairfield is one of a group of teachers MEA President Steve Cook refers … "freeloaders."
Although he left the MEA, Fairfield said he gave a financial … he invested heavily in the MEA, but felt the union wasn't always … example, Fairfield said the MEA representative who negotiated … more
Lawsuit Filed Against MEA Over Dues Policies, 'Fair Representation'
Novi teacher joins others from across the state suing the MEA to try to get out of the union
… her behalf. Bank is suing the MEA because the union has a "duty … employees to pay annual dues to the MEA, Wright said.
"The union has … group of teachers suing the MEA, the union presented a new dues … policy, which outlines how the MEA will use a collection agency … past due in paying.
If the MEA sticks to its policy, it will … more
Former MEA Local Prez: Union May Lose 40% of Members – Including Him – if Teacher Right to Work Passes
… teachers would bolt from the MEA.
The reason? He says some don’t … also noted news reports of MEA officials getting hefty raises … their money to East Lansing (MEA headquarters) and not getting … teachers union would replace the MEA, which he said was “a guardian … Association, the parent union of the MEA, is spending their dues on issues … more
Union Touts Liability Insurance As Perk; Costs $4.35 A Year Per Member
Teachers don't have to rely on MEA for coverage
… the money they pay in dues.
MEA members pay about $635 a year … year for most members.
The MEA recently highlighted one benefit, the … to offer that benefit. The MEA revealed the cost last week … coverage has been promoted on the MEA's website and further highlighted in numerous local MEA affiliate newsletters.
"That … more
University Employees Break From MEA For Better Service At Lower Cost
Local Union Prez: 'We have fewer members exercising RTW than we had fee payers with the MEA'
… we had fee payers with the MEA," she said.
Bedford believes … many more members under the MEA would have opted out.
She believes that over the years the MEA failed to represent the best … spoken to at least one other MEA group in higher education considering …
www.AugustOptOut.org
Breaking Away From the MEA
'They Are a Bureaucratic Machine … more
MEA head boasts of membership growth, but numbers tell a different story
Among non-retirees, MEA membership is declining
…
But a federal filing at the end of the month told a different story. The MEA currently has 78,817 non-retired/non-trainee members. It had 79,837 such … enrollment dropped from 1,645,742 students in 2008 to 1,437,279 this year.
The MEA had 117,265 members in 2012. Membership fell to 78,475 by 2020. The union … more
10 Stories Showing Why Mandatory Government Collective Bargaining Is Counterproductive
… CapCon commentator Jack McHugh wrote, “Our goal is (to) outlaw government collective bargaining in Michigan, which in practical terms means no more MEA.” Despite wariness of public-sector unionization by progressives like President Franklin D. Roosevelt and former AFL-CIO union leader George Meany, … more
Teachers Union Spends Little of Its Funds on Bargaining
MEA spends only 10 percent of funds on 'representational activities'
… past 10 years, the most the MEA has spent on negotiating and … their jobs. One of the ways the MEA has responded to the new law … went into effect in 2013, the MEA and some school districts extended … by the labor organization.
MEA officials didn’t respond to … represents 10 percent of the MEA’s total receipts of $124.2 million … more
Competitive Contracting at Public Schools
MEA Committed to Defeating Privatization
MEA committed to defeating privatization
Editor’s note: The … of the Spring 2007 issue of MEA Voice. It may be viewed in its … supply classroom teachers.
"MEA is committed to helping members … Grand Rapids member of the MEA to the MEA Voice. It was published in the … more
MEA Economist Ignores Billions In Education Spending
'The Truth About Funding' video repeats union's inaccurate claims
… funding.
In the video, "The Truth About Funding," MEA labor economist Ruth Beier repeats the union's inaccurate … about 1,375 students in those three years.
"The MEA is well known for only telling part of the story … Funding Up, Results Flat
Like a Broken Record, MEA Complains About 'Insufficient Funds'
A 'Crisis' … more
Are Teachers With Master's Degrees Forced To Take Food Stamps?
MEA fact check
… was eligible for a Bridge card.
Steve Cook, the MEA’s president, said that a teacher he talked to was … vacation.”
Cook’s claim was not the first time an MEA representative has cried poor when discussing teacher’s salaries.
Ric Hogerheide, an MEA UniServe director, claimed that first-year teachers … more
MEA Embraces More Outsourcing
But still protests when schools do it
… in this video that features MEA employees attesting to how great … collection services was. In it, MEA representatives admit that their … dues collection services, the MEA makes a strong case for why … membership organization, the MEA's main purpose should be representing … experts.
So the next time MEA officials argue that there's … more
MEA Skips Testifying on Bill Ending Its Pension Spiking Arrangements
Past MEA presidents spiked their public pensions using six-figure union salaries
… pension spiking of the type MEA President Steve Cook used to … lets Cook use his $201,613 MEA salary as the basis for calculating … However, teacher unions, such as MEA and the AFT, would. Nonetheless, the MEA declined to testify at all, … teachers and both members of the MEA,” Lakin told the committee. … more
Michigan’s Largest Teachers Union Has Lost 25 Percent of Its Members
MEA’s decline much greater than its ‘worst fears’ after right-to-work allowed teachers to leave
… became law in Michigan, the MEA has lost 27,609 dues-paying … Department, released this week.
The MEA has experienced steep membership … right-to-work became law.
MEA Spokesman Doug Pratt didn’t … email seeking comment.
The MEA has 87,628 active members in … that the number of dues-paying MEA members would have fallen further … more
Union Threatens School District for Removing Illegal Language From Contracts
MEA sent 'cease and desist' letter to superintendent
… effect.
Mary McGee-Cullen, a MEA Uniserv Director, sent the Dec. … communications to me as I am their MEA representative.”
The teachers' … union representatives that the MEA would allow the contract to … for Public Policy, said the MEA was wrong.
“MEA officials worked to keep contract … more
School District Denies Teacher's Claim of Bias in Evaluations
MEA member says district using evaluations for 'punitive' reasons
… teacher and secretary of the Port Huron Education Association, criticized in an MEA article how teachers are evaluated in the Port Huron Area School District. … positively not," Wollen said. "We are following the law."
Neither Murray nor MEA Spokesman Doug Pratt responded to requests for comment.
Wollen said 60 teachers … more
Union Will Use 'Any Legal Means' to Combat Members Who Want to Leave
Two former MEA local presidents question August-only resignation window
… statement in a letter he sent to MEA local presidents, board members and staff. MEA Spokesman Doug Pratt didn’t … a request for comment.
The MEA said if members want to resign, … Commission ruling that supports the MEA's hardline stance.
"I don’t … presidents questioned how the MEA was handling the "August only" … more
'Got Your Back' or Stab It: Union Sics Bill Collectors on Right-to-Work Exercisers
MEA spends $152K going after members trying to leave
… federal government show how the MEA is now doubling down on these … credit ratings.
In 2014, the MEA reported paying bill collectors … collection agencies $152,554.
The MEA didn’t respond to an email seeking … are several reasons why the MEA could be spending more to harass … employees.
For years, the MEA only allowed members to stop … more
Union Graphic Leaves Out Billions of Public Dollars To Claim Education 'Cuts'
MEA's Facebook page has multiple inaccuracies
… Cycle” (see image nearby), the MEA cited an open letter from a …
In the past several months, MEA President Steve Cook has misrepresented … $8,000 per pupil in 2011.
The MEA is citing data lifted from an … adjusted for inflation.
The MEA’s chart also cites an AnnArbor.com … 233 teachers.”
But what the MEA doesn’t report on the chart … more
Union Opposes Privatization For Others, Outsources For Itself
MEA spent $155K outsourcing non-union janitorial services
… services to save money.
Yet, the MEA contracts out work with non-union … U.S. Department of Labor.
The MEA paid a total of $155,623 for … 2012-13, the records show. The MEA paid the companies between $5,500 … companies are not unionized.
The MEA did not respond to a request … services. Unfortunately, the MEA has long opposed the practice … more
Union Tries to Shame Ex-Members
MEA affiliate lists the names of school employees who chose to leave the union
… some to question whether the MEA is trying to create a hostile workplace environment.
The MEA 17-B/C union newsletter listed … voted to decertify from the MEA last year, said this was "an … owners and teachers, Day said.
MEA President Steve Cook has repeatedly … employees who opt out of the MEA as "freeloaders."
The MEA spends … more
MEA Upset at Having to Follow State Law
… the right to choose.
But the MEA is also upset at the Center’s … performance.
Who, exactly, are MEA officials representing when … backgrounds.
Who, exactly, are MEA officials representing when … teachers of their rights, the MEA wrote:
If [the Mackinac Center …
High-performing teachers should ask the MEA the same question. Seniority-based … more
Former Teachers Union Heads, Staff, Parlayed Big MEA Paychecks Into Jumbo Public Pensions
Ex-MEA presidents get state-constitution guaranteed six-figure pensions
… could also use the six-figure MEA salary to generate a higher … the amount they collect in an MEA union salary toward getting … union. Maddox was succeeded as MEA president by Lu Battaglieri … election.
Many current and past MEA employees and officials have … have had otherwise. Former MEA President Iris Salters is collecting … more
State's Largest Teachers Union Fails to Disclose 30 Percent of Its Income
MEA leaves $38.3M of income to speculation
… 2014 LM-2 disclosure form, the MEA reported over $38 million in … assume that the $38 million MEA listed under ‘All Other Receipts’ … involving members quitting the union, MEA Executive Director Gretchen … about the $33 million that MEA reported on its 2013 report … telephone voice message for MEA spokeswoman Nancy Knight requesting … more
Teacher Claims Union Ruined Her Credit, Humiliated Her Over Trying to Leave
Harper Creek educator files lawsuit against the MEA
… to September 2012 when the MEA was implementing its e-dues … window. That’s the only month the MEA allows its members to opt-out. … for Public Policy, said the MEA has a legal duty to be fully … that information isn't in the MEA's financial interest,” Wilcox said. “The MEA hasn't been forthcoming, and … more
Illegal Teacher Strike Rumored After Union’s ‘Job Action’ Letter
… asking members to give the MEA the authority to initiate a … states that on March 11, the MEA board of directors voted unanimously … favor of several actions the MEA would be taking to “ratchet … this vote means. It authorizes MEA to engage in significant activities … read as follows: “Do you give MEA the authority to initiate crisis … more
Hypocrisy Over Private Organizations 'Profiteering' Off Education System
MEA says profits bad for some, good for education establishment
… $212,848 in 2013 as president of the MEA, a private organization with annual revenue of $133 million. The MEA, which is the state's largest teachers … with the IRS.
Neither Cook, nor an MEA spokeswoman responded to a request for comment.
But the MEA is not the only organization in Michigan … more
Union Survey: Michigan Teachers Want Pension Reform
Only 12.2 percent of MEA members feel they will have a comfortable retirement
Union, District Force Non-Union Teacher to Pay for Union Release Time
Teacher Adam Neuman sues MEA affiliate and Brighton Schools
… Districts Across the State Violating Michigan Right-to-Work Law
Teachers Sue MEA To Escape Union
Union Threatens Hall of Fame Coach With Legal Action For …
Teacher Got Plenty of Info About Paying Dues, Nothing About Opting Out of the MEA more
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