State teachers union loses members, revenue

The Michigan Education Association lost members again in 2025, according to the union’s latest federally required LM-2 filings.

The teachers union had roughly 130,000 working members and $132 million in revenue in 2010. School districts in the state increased the number of full-time equivalent employees by more than 20,000 between 2010-11 and 2024-25, according to MiSchoolData, a website of state government. Even so, the union lost members and their financial support.

The union is now down to 79,465 working members. Its dues revenue dropped by $2.2 million from 2024 to 2025, according to the LM-2 forms.

As a result, the Michigan Education Association is closing offices and laying off directors, according to Jarrett Skorup, vice president of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Total receipts for the union dropped from $109.2 million in 2024 to $88.3 million in 2025. Receipts for 2010 were $132 million.

The union’s spending on political activities and lobbying went from $2.9 million in 2024 to $2.4 million in 2025.

One former teacher reached out to Michigan Capitol Confidential to explain why educators are choosing not to support the union.

“My holiday and days off policies were actually ridiculous and in fact encouraged teachers to call in sick instead of taking partial days off,” Geoffrey Jones, a one-time employee at a public school district, told CapCon via a private message on social media. He declined to join the Michigan Education Association because, he said, union bosses are out of control, living like kings and doing nothing for the members.

Jones noted that he still had to accept the contract negotiated on his behalf by the union even though he was not a member. And he criticized the MEA for devoting its energies to other issues while ignoring its core purpose to negotiate better wages, benefits and working conditions for educators.

“The union has no business and should have no say in curriculum, student discipline, health policies or any other matters pertaining to the operation of a public school,” Jones said.

The Michigan Education Association did not respond to a request for comment.