This is a lobbying report from Lu Battaglieri, the MEA's Executive Director, regarding yesterday in Lansing. I believe this report is significant when it is considered that SOS (Save Our Schools - the group lobbying for loss of teacher pay, benefits, and bargaining rights) was in town!
From Lu-
March 10, 2010
Good afternoon,
I want to tell you of a lobbying event that took place today.
We had gotten wind that management groups belonging to SOS were going to meet this morning and lobby this afternoon. I asked Government Affairs and Field Services to bring a group of staff and leaders to Lansing this morning to counter lobby. It was fantastic. A big thank you to all who participated on such a short notice. It worked – I’m getting phone calls.
They are just now getting to legislators who are asking them (administrators) the questions we suggested legislators should ask of the administrators. (i.e. Are school administrators here today lobbying on their own time, or are they being paid with public funds today? Do you believe school districts should be forced to use up the $1.7 billion in their fund surpluses before cutting program, charging students to play sports, and cut busing? Should school districts be allowed to spend public dollars to hire attorneys to do administrators' jobs for them?)
It was the definition of strategic, collective action.
MEA
About Me
- Tfitzjake
- I wrote this introduction 6 years ago, and it is even more important today than ever. The voices of educational employees need to be heard above the roar of public school attacks in this country. We are on the front line; we are highly educated and trained professionals. Why are we being ignored? I am an educator. I was the president of the Walled Lake Education Association for over 6 years, and before that, the treasurer for 8 years. I have been on the bargaining team for 15 years. I am now the MEA UniServ Director for 7K and parts of IJ. I want our voice to be heard! Today's educational climate requires that we all stay informed regarding the issues affecting our chosen profession!