What does ALEC mean to you and democracy?

By clicking the "Click here" below, you will be taken to a 2 minute and 26 second explanation of how "ALEC" is working to deny the common, ordinary American of their democratic rights.

While it is a cartoon segment, I believe it demonstrates very acutely what has happened in Michigan this year.

If you are outraged, you should be!  I also believe it demonstrates more than ever the need for everyone to be part of an organization of workers that represents their views and best interests.  How else will we have a voice against the money-makers?

CLICK Here!

Pictures from the A.M. Right to Work Rally in Lansing

Getting into town could be a trick, but not impossible.

Need I say more?



Looking down Michigan Ave. from the Capitol.
More people coming!

It wasn't warm!



More Information for Tuesday

More Information about Lansing/Capitol Building “Visits” -

TUESDAY, December 11th–

Rallies will be going on in Lansing at the Capitol Building ALL DAY on TUESDAY! 

People will be gathering beginning at 8 am.  BUT YOU CAN JOIN AT ANY TIME DURING THE DAY. 

***JOIN together after work with friends and drive to Lansing.   

*****Take the Cedar Street Exit off I496 and travel to Michigan Avenue and turn left.  You’ll see the Capitol Building!   There are many public parking lots surrounding the capitol building.

Dress to be outdoors; I think they may lock up the Capitol! 

***As an alternative to avoid parking hassles in Lansing:  PARK  behind the MEA Headquarters in East Lansing and ride the shuttle bus to downtown Lansing

-              1216 Kendale Blvd., East Lansing, MI  48826

-               

******Standing there is important and helping to form a huge group. 

******The more there are, the bigger the impact!

4)   Continue to CALL Governor Snyder – 517-373-3400

OR email:  https://somgovweb.state.mi.us/GovRelations/ShareOpinion.aspx

(an easy to use fill-in form!)

*******Tell him to quit putting the interests of business over those of the middle class.

Right to Work - Why you should TAKE ACTION

RIGHT TO WORK Legislation could happen tomorrow or next week!  Please educate yourselves and inform your legislators about your wishes!!!!

So, why is this RIGHT TO WORK issue such a big deal?  The proponents will tell you, it gives people “choice”….isn’t “choice” good?

However, please consider the following information from the AFL-CIO.org website.  These statistics were also shared at the press conference Lansing Democrats held today (Wednesday) at the state capital:

Facts regarding “Right to Work” states –

• 1.        The average worker in a RTW state makes about $5,333 a year less than those in free bargaining states.
• 2.       21% more people lack health insurance in RTW states compared to free bargaining states
• 3.       RTW states have a poverty rate of 12.5% compared to 10.2% in free bargaining states.
• 4.       The rate of workplace deaths is 51% higher in RTW states where unions can’t speak up on behalf of workers.

These statistics certainly don’t support the Republican claims that RTW laws will improve the Michigan economy.  Perhaps taken solely from a corporation or CEO’s point of view, they do.  However, the majority of Michigan residents do not fall into the CEO category.

Please click on the link below (or copy and paste into your browser) and it will easily direct you to your local representative.  Write your SENATOR and your HOUSE Representative.

   

http://capwiz.com/nea/mi/directory/statedir.tt?state=MI&lvl=state

The message is simple, cut and paste if you wish:  “Do not pass Right to Work legislation.”

Stop the "Parent Trigger Law"!
The House passed it out of committee today!   It is expected to be introduced on the House floor today!

Reported by the TRI-county Alliance-

The bill gives certain parents and teachers the ability to petition the local school board to determine the district’s intervention model. (Closure, Restart, Transformation and Turnaround).  If a valid petition recommends a restart model, the parents may apply to convert the school to a charter. The new substitute for this bill still requires the operating district to lease the building to the new charter authorizer for $1, which is unconstitutional.  This newly chartered school would then operate as a Conversion School.

Some of the problems:

• There are no election standards for petition signers who are effectively voting for a school takeover. This means they do not have to be registered voters, citizens, or legal residents.
• SB 620 allows for the unconstitutional taking of public property by a small faction without a vote of the people or even majority support.
• There are no quality requirements to ensure that the authorizing body or management organization for a Conversion School has any experience or success in running a school.     

Click the URL for an easy way to connect with your rep:

http://capwiz.com/tca4edu/issues/alert/?alertid=62218126&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

Or. CLICK HERE

Help Save Public EDUCATION!!!

WLEA members -

Please use the url and information below to contact the Governor and your legislators!
It is a connection to an easy-to-use site that provides both a way to email your own legislators, as well as suggested messages or "talking-points" for those of you who may want help crafting a messsage!

This is very important for our schools and the future of public education!

FROM THE TRI-COUNTY ALLIANCE -

As you know the Governor and some legislators are attempting to rush through a sweeping education bill that will create a statewide super school district that has the potential to operate schools in every Michigan school district.

This super school district known as the EAA, implements experimental instructional techniques that have not been proven by research to produce academic achievement. 

It is critical that our legislators get the message that rushing this plan through without fully understanding the potential risks for Michigan’s students, school districts and communities is irresponsible. Tell them your community deserves better than rushing this plan through the lame duck session. 

Please email your legislators immediately and tell them to oppose House Bill 6004 and Senate Bill 1358.

CLICK HERE

TAKE ACTION NOW!!!! Fight the take over of Public Education!

Dear Fellow WLEA Members,

We all need to stop the advancement of the legislation currently being considered by Governor Snyder and the Republican led legislature.

It has to do with the EAA - Educational Achievement Authority - a school "district" set up by the Governor for failing schools. But now the idea is being expanded and it is amounting to a give away of public funds to private entities. There are bills that accompany the EAA that allow schools to be set up by private companies or anyone for that matter, who want to do that. The very worst part is that this new EAA school district does not have to meet any of the criterion public schools are required to meet - including TESTING! It will not be overseen by a public elected board, nor will it be under the control of the State Superintendent of Education. It will be overseen by the Governor and his appointee.

The legislation for these proposals was written by a man who calls himself the "Oxford Foundation", but he was one of the founders of the Mackinaw Center. Make no mistake....these bills are here to destroy public education.

Ask yourself, what is that going to mean for your future employment? What is that going to mean for the state retirement system?

Please go to the link below and sign the online petition NOW!!!! Do not wait!

CLICK HERE!