School Official Says Illegal Language Should Be Removed From Union Contract
Monroe Public Schools assistant superintendent quick to acknowledge that changes should be made
Unlike school officials in some other districts, the assistant superintendent of the Monroe Public Schools acknowledges that its union contract for teachers has provisions that are in violation of the state's right-to-work law and says they should be removed.
The union contract, which runs from March 1, 2014 to Aug. 15, 2016, states that a teacher must pay union dues or an agency fee as a condition of employment. That is in conflict with the state's right-to-work law that took effect March 28, 2013.
Assistant Superintendent Ryan McLeod said the school district doesn't follow the illegal practices spelled out in the contract. In particular, he said the district does not deduct union dues from teacher paychecks and also has not followed through on the language to fire teachers who don't pay union dues or an agency fee to the union.
"Our practices have changed and this does not reflect what those practices are,” McLeod said. "This absolutely should be taken out."
Other school districts have not been as forthcoming about following the law. A school official from the Wyoming Public Schools, for example, said the Kent County district kept illegal language in its contract because they think it is unenforceable. The teachers union contract in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools in Wayne County also has language in it that could be in violation of the state's right-to-work law, though district officials maintain the contract went into effect before right-to-work was in place.
A 2012 law made it illegal for school districts to automatically deduct union dues or fees from teacher paychecks. The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law in May.
Monroe's McLeod said the district's last round of contract negotiations were mostly focused on economic concessions, not on the union provisions about dues collection and teacher firing. He said the district does not even track who is a member of the union.
The school district, located in Monroe County, has 348 teachers. The Monroe School Board ratified the union contract at its March 4, 2014, meeting. The board members for the Monroe Public Schools are: Robert Yeo, Lawrence VanWasshenova, June Knabusch-Taylor, Tedd March, Wendy Spicer, Aaron Mason and Ryan Philbeck. Board members did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
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What the 4th of July Means to Me
Counting my blessings
As we watch countless numbers of human beings struggle for freedom and liberty around the globe, it is good to reflect upon the blessings we enjoy in the land that we love — this United States of America.
This is my 67th Fourth of July celebration and my memories of the day are some of those very blessings…family time in many places. All were amazing…captivated by fireworks in small-town America…aboard a small boat on the Mississippi River and also a huge cruise liner in Alaska…on the Palace Green in Williamsburg, Va.…in several baseball parks…attending the Baltimore Symphony at Oregon Ridge…attending the Detroit Symphony at the Henry Ford…and zooming across the night sky on a flight to Europe. My blessings include travel to all 50 states and there is something of interest and beauty to be found in each. The US of A is one of my greatest blessings in life.
Our late Senior Vice President Joseph P. Overton penned the following many years ago to be included in our holiday policy:
I remember reading this for the first time and being so grateful I had landed in an organization representing so well my own values! One of my nicknames is "the red, white and blue grandma" and I am delighted that a young child recognized what is important to me. Those colors are seen in my apparel, my jewelry, my home and office décor and in the flag that flies 24 hours a day at my home.
My pride in being an American knows no bounds. I am a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution because of a patriot whose service I documented. I am the proud daughter of a father who served his country stateside as a factory worker supplying goods to troops during WWII and the proud daughter-in-law of an Omaha Beach hero. From my patriot great-great-great-great grandfather to my fathers from the greatest generation, my heritage is strong and greatly appreciated.
I will celebrate with passion and verve and count my blessings. As my favorite stanza from "My Country 'Tis of Thee" says, may freedom's holy light be forever bright!
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
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