Union Falsely Tells Teachers They Lose Sick Leave Benefits if They Opt Out

The president of a local teachers union incorrectly told his members they would lose benefits to a sick bank all teachers had contributed to if they left the union.

Todd Mignerey, a high school teacher at Flushing Community Schools and the Flushing Education Association union president, sent the email in June while discussing the Michigan Education Association’s opt-out period in the month of August.

The claim was made in a 11-page PDF document entitled, “Union Membership Has Benefits, Why Should I Remain In FEA, MEA, NEA?”

Page 3 of the document states, “FSTDIP (Formerly Sick Bank)”:

“MEA legal has confirmed the the (sic) FSTDIP benefit is a member benefit. ...Non-members are not eligible for the program.”

Mignerey and MEA officials did not respond to a request for comment.

All teachers in the district contribute to the sick bank (FEA Short-term Disability Insurance Program: FSTDIP).

Patrick Wright, vice president for legal affairs at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, said unions cannot get better deals for their members over non-union members in collective bargaining agreements.

“Discrimination based on union membership is illegal,” Wright said.

Michele Blair, associate superintendent for Flushing Community Schools, said the district wouldn’t deny access to the sick bank to non-union members.