15-B Insider -- March 2005

Cyndi Austin - Uniserv Director caustin@mea.org
Judy A. Pullen - Uniserv Field Assistant jpullen@mea.org

More attacks: H.R. 14 attacks pension, health care benefits

House Resolution 14, which contends that public education funding problems can be solved by reducing the "generous" pension and health care benefits of school employees, passed on Feb. 16^th, and more anti-school employee legislation is on the way.

While H.R. 14 will likely spur new bills in the House, Senate Bills 55 and 56 are already generating debate in the Senate. S.B. 55 would make the State responsible for providing health care for school employees in K-12 districts, intermediate school districts and community colleges.

S.B. 56 would prohibit collective bargaining over health benefit plans, other than those the State provides. Together these bills contend that a massive State bureaucracy can more efficiently serve public school employees than the benefit plans they have been allowed to bargain for since 1966.

Contact your senator and representative today to let them know where you stand on these attacks on public education and your bargaining rights.

Senator Michelle McManus (R-MI 35^th):
E-mail: SenMMcManus@senate.michigan.gov
905 Farnum Building
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
Phone: (517) 373-1725
Fax: (517) 373-0741

Representative Darwin Booher (R-MI 102^nd):
E-Mail: darwinbooher@house.mi.gov
166 House Office Building
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Phone: (517) 373-1747
Fax: (517) 373-9371

BARGAINING UPDATE

Settled: Pine River ESP, Manton EA & ESP, Mesick ESP, Marion EA, Evart ESP & Evart Transportation, Wexford ISD ESP.
Bargaining 2004-05: Cadillac EA, Cadillac ESP, Forest Area EA, Marion ESP, McBain EA, McBain ESP, and Mesick EA.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

March 15-17th Cyndi out of office - Statewide Staff/Legal Update
March 18-19th Cyndi out of office - ESP Statewide Conference
March 25 Office closed – Good Friday
March 28 Cyndi out of office – Vacation
April 12 Cyndi out of office –Training
April 19-21 Cyndi out of office – Core training
April 21 OPIE Banquet – Timber Wolf
April 29 Cyndi out of office – Spring RA
May 2 Coordinating Council – 7:07

MEA critical list growing

Mesick teachers have been without a contract since Aug. 2004 and are being added to the critical list. Their key issues are salary and benefits. There are 59 teachers and 930 students in the district.

Alpena teachers have been without a new contract since Aug. 2004 and are being added to the critical list. This is the first time in 10 years that they are without an agreement. Both sides are currently in mediation. There are 282 teachers and 4,849 students in the district.

Lakeview teachers in St. Clair Shores are also being put on the critical list. The 165 teachers have been without a new contract since Sept. 2004. Key issues are salary and benefits. There are 2,372 students in the district.

Gaylord teachers have ratified a three-year agreement and are being removed from the critical list. Their previous contract expired Aug. 2004.

With the addition of Alpena, Lakeview, and Mesick teachers, and the removal of Gaylord teachers, currently there are 29 units on the critical list.

Percentage Dues Implementation Postponement

At the last Board meeting, MEA Secretary-Treasurer Steve Cook gave a report on percentage dues and where MEA was headed in terms of implementation. Part of that report included the situation where local and ISD payroll offices were spending a great deal of time with new MPSERS reporting requirements and the effect that might have on getting percentage dues up and running by 2005-06.

MEA has looked at the situation and talked to enough payroll offices to where it is being recommended that percentage dues NOT be implemented in 05-06 but should be postponed until the 06-07 year. This will require RA approval and the documents necessary to postpone percentage dues will be presented to the Board in January. If you have any questions, please call Steve Cook at 800/292-1934.

CONGRATULATIONS

This year we will be honoring 16 individuals as Outstanding Persons in Education and 6 individuals as Friends of Education at our 29^th annual OPIE Banquet to be held April 21st. Congratulations to each honoree for your exemplary efforts toward the cause of educational excellence, and a hearty thank you for your dedication, enthusiasm, and willingness to go the "extra mile" for our children. Our schools’ success depends on people like you. You help students understand the world they see, and what they have the potential to be.

Outstanding Persons in Education – Sally Adlam, Cadillac EA; Janice Ford, TAS of Cadillac; Brian Hughes, Cadillac ESP; Mary Ellen VanHoose, Evart EA; Diane Brackett, Evart ESP; Anne Welburn, Forest Area EA; Patricia Colvin, Manton EA; Denise Stutzman, Manton ESP; Barbie Edwards, Marion EA; Terry Ashmore, Marion ESP; Shyrl Wimmler, McBain EA; Betty Keen, McBain ESP; Carol Boyer, Mesick EA; Sharren Williamson, Mesick ESP; Kelly Buckmaster, Pine River EA; and Janice Knapp, Pine River ESP.

Friends of Education – Gary & Floy Nostrant, Cadillac; Julie Clark, Evart; Jane Sawin, Manton; George Johnson, Marion; Renee Mayle, McBain; and Sharon Baker, Pine River.

We will be holding our banquet at Timber WoIf Lake again this year. It is located just four (4) miles north of Lake City on M-66. This is a beautiful lodge in a scenic location. If you haven’t already made your reservation, why not do it now and join us for a wonderful evening of celebrating education. Social time with appetizers is at 6:00 p.m. and dinner at 6:45 p.m. Reservations are coming in fast. Remember, space is limited.

"May the light from that torch of advocacy continue to shine upon our great union to give us the will, the resolve, the courage, the commitment and the resources to continue to serve our members with honor, integrity and distinction."

MEA Executive Director, Chuck Anderson - Remarks on February 4, 2005