The Michigan Education Association has been an outspoken critic of school districts that privatize custodial services to save money.

Yet, the MEA contracts out work with non-union companies for its own janitorial services. The state's largest teachers union had contracts with six companies in 2012-13, according to financial reports it filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

The MEA paid a total of $155,623 for janitorial services in 2012-13, the records show. The MEA paid the companies between $5,500 to $86,112. Michigan Capitol Confidential confirmed that the companies are not unionized.

The MEA did not respond to a request seeking comment.

"It is good to see that the Michigan Education Association remains a champion of competitive contracting — at least at their headquarters," said Michael LaFaive, the director of the Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. "This is a useful management technique that can save money and improve services. Unfortunately, the MEA has long opposed the practice in districts with whom they bargain. Such hypocrisy is rank, but it doesn't seem to bother this old industrial union of janitors, bus drivers, food service workers and teachers."

On its own website, the MEA spells out why it doesn't want school districts to follow in the MEA's steps when it comes to hiring private contractors to do work.

The appeal of privatization is based on the flawed economic assumption that private companies can provide the same services as public school employers at lower costs. Theoretically, a good contract with a private firm could provide the same services with the same quality, responsiveness and accountability as an in-house operation. The problem is that to achieve this, a private contractor is very likely to charge more than it costs to provide the service in-house. Private contractors need to earn profits, finance corporate overhead and pay taxes. These factors drive the cost of the contract up and/or the quality and quantity of the service down. Time after time, districts that try to save money by hiring private contractors end up with inferior service, higher costs or both.

The MEA sponsors a Statewide Anti-Privatization Committee. And at its most recent annual conference, the union had several sessions on "fighting privatization." Part of the description for one read: "Come learn how to recognize the threat of Privatization, how to fight privatization battles, defending members’ careers, and steps to take in protecting your own local."

Charles Owens, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, called the MEA's practice inconsistent. He said if the union truly opposes privatization for schools, it shouldn't be outsourcing its own janitorial services.

"If they are saying that for the people they represent, then they certainly should be setting the example," Owens said. "Otherwise it sounds an awful lot like, 'Do as I say, not as I do'."

The Michigan Education Association could lose thousands of its members in August when the one-month window to leave the state's largest teachers union begins.

Thousands of teachers already are withholding dues or fees from the union despite promises by the MEA that it will send debt collectors after those who don't sign up for automatic dues withdrawal.

Patrick Wright, vice president of legal affairs for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, said he thinks the MEA could lose as many as 10,000 members this year.

Last week, Doug Pratt, the MEA's director of member and political engagement, told Michigan Public Radio that 7,000 teachers still had not paid dues or fees to the union. This comes three months after MEA Executive Director Gretchen Dziadosz testified under oath that 8,000 members had had yet to pay their dues. 

She said in February that technical issues could be to blame for the large number or that members had not been contacted by their local association. Those who were contacted, she said, were happy to sign up for automatic withdrawal.

Either most of the non-paying members have still not been contacted, or they are holding out until August when they can officially resign from the union.

"We are expecting them to drop thousands if not tens of thousands in dues paying members," Wright said.

Neither Pratt, nor MEA Spokeswoman Nancy Knight responded to requests for comment.

Michigan's right-to-work law no longer makes the payment of union dues or fees mandatory as a condition of employment. When union contracts end, workers can decide if they want to belong to the union.

The MEA, however, only allows its members to opt out in a one-month window in August of every year. At issue is how many of the MEA members knew last year they could only file to leave the union in August.

In March, the MEA dropped its fight against two Michigan teachers who filed unfair labor practice complaints against it and allowed them out of the union. Coopersville kindergarten teacher Miriam Chanski and Petoskey high school teacher William "Ray" Arthur said the MEA didn't make any effort to let them know they could only opt out in August, but both were repeatedly told how to pay dues.

Ray Arthur believes this August will be different than last.

"I am sure that the majority of teachers now know of the August window," he said.

The MEA reported having 147,659 members as of Aug. 31, 2013, a reduction of 4,112 members from the previous year, according to documents the union filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

The American Federation of Teachers-Michigan reported having 21,456 members as of June 30, 2013, a reduction of 1,932 members from the previous year, according to documents it filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Michigan's right-to-work law does not go into effect for employees unless a contract is signed after March of 2013. At least 145 school districts in Michigan worked with unions to extend their union contracts, which do not give teachers and other school employees the option to leave.

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See also:

Video Report: Teachers Hope Their Win Against Union Emboldens Others

Teachers Victorious In Their Quest To Get Out of the MEA

MEA Says Union Members Should Have Known About Limited Window To Leave

Teachers To Lawmakers: MEA Wouldn't Tell Us How To Leave Union

Disrespect, Bullying Convinces Paraeducator That Union Not Interested In Its Members

Bipartisan Senate Panel To Investigate Possible MEA Right-to-Work Violations

Teachers Sue MEA To Escape Union

Union Threatens Hall of Fame Coach With Legal Action For Not Paying Dues

Teacher Who Never Wanted Union Representation Still Forced To Be a Member

Teacher Got Plenty of Info About Paying Dues, Nothing About Opting Out of the MEA