EFM - ACTION IMPERATIVE!!!

The EMERGENCY FINANCIAL MANAGER BILL MAY BE VOTED ON IN Michigan’s Senate as soon as TUESDAY!! We must take action!
The bill numbers are Senate Bills 153-158 and House Bills 4214-4218 and 4246.
(Sample letter or script can be found at the bottom of the page!)

This is extremely dangerous legislation because, if a school district goes broke, it allows an “Emergency Financial Manager” to be appointed to run the district. This person will have the power to void your contract -- including your salary, health insurance benefits, class sizes, seniority rights, and any other provisions. There is also discussion that the EFM would abe given the power to make academic and curriculum changes to a school district, regardless of their knowledge or qualifications in that area.

MEA strongly opposes the bills. However, they would support some safe guards being added to the bills:
• Prior to the termination of all or parts of a contract, there must be a "good faith" negotiation period lasting 60 days, during which time the bargaining agent for the employees and the employer or emergency financial manager must try to settle any issues.
• If a contract, or parts of a contract, is/are terminated, there must be a court appeals process to determine if there was due process for the termination.
• Do NOT give the emergency financial manager the power to consolidate local units of government or school districts, including the power to put such a question on the ballot.
• An emergency financial manager for school districts must have both financial and academic qualifications. Without such qualifications, an emergency financial manager should not be granted the broad academic powers the bill currently provides.
• Remove the section from the bill amending the Public Employment Relations Act. As the legislation is currently written, future labor contracts would have to include a clause that provides automatic termination of the contract if an emergency financial manager is appointed at any time.

Please, DO NOT BE COMPLACENT!!! With Governor Snyder’s proposed budget cuts, many schools districts are on the verge of having deficit spending! This could easily happen to all schools in Michigan within the next two years!

This law will also affect State employees who are represented by unions. The State of Michigan is already projected to be billions of dollars in the red. If this law passes, the state employee unions will be the first to suffer, but not the last.

In my own personal opinion, our State and union employees are in the VERY SAME DANGER that Wisconsin unionized workers are in. The difference? It appears Michigan will pass the same anti-union laws piece-by-piece rather than propose it in one giant proposal as Wisconsin’s governor has.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, thousands of union employees, including some WLEA members, were in Lansing protesting this legislation as it was being discussed in the House. IT WAS STILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY.

We CAN NOT SIT BACK and wait! Everyone must call or write! Some of our members have already called today and have been told that their legislator will not vote in favor of the bill. However, we need more REPUBLICANS to commit to a NO vote for this legislation to be stopped!

Here are the Senators to target!
Please use your cell or home phones and your home email accounts!
7 Patrick Colbeck R-Canton Twp. 517-373-7350
SenPColbeck@senate.michigan.gov

10 Tory Rocca R-Sterling Heights 517-373-7315
SenTRocca@senate.michigan.gov

15 Mike Kowall R-White Lake Twp. 517-373-1758
SenMKowall@senate.michigan.gov

22 Joe Hune R-Hamburg Twp. 517-373-2420
SenJHune@senate.michigan.gov

SAMPLE LETTER or Script: The Emergency Financial Manager bill is a violation of a person's democratic rights. It wipes out elected school boards and city councils, voiding all contracts including collective bargaining agreements. Elected officials should not vote to approve legislation that allows the will of the people to be overturned. The legislature should also provide adequate funding to cities, townships and schools so they are not viewed as causing the take over of the public's voted representatives at the local level.

Wednesday Legislation Report for OHIO & MICHIGAN

Today Ohio’s State Senate passed a bill 17-16 that drastically reduces the bargaining rights of unionized public workers. Six Republicans crossed party lines to vote against the bill. The bill will affect about 350,000 teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public employees.

The Ohio bill would ban strikes by public workers and establish penalties for those who do participate in walkouts. Unionized workers could negotiate wages, hours and certain work conditions but not health care, sick time or pension benefits. The measure would do away with automatic pay raises and base future wage increases on merit.
The bill now moves to Ohio’s House of Representatives, and is then expected to go to the Ohio governor who has already indicated his support for the bill.

Ohio’s State Senate President calls the bill “fair” and “balanced”. These words should alarm MICHIGAN TEACHERS as they are words that Governor Snyder uses to describe his proposals. Truly, the meaning of the word “fair” is very subjective.

What is fair? Isn’t it fair that teachers be allowed to bargain their health care, sick time and pension benefits? Is “fair” basing a teacher’s wage increases on merit? Who defines what merit is if a state senate requires wages be based on “merit”. Again, I don’t want government defining what merit is for teachers because they are not in schools, and they are not trained educators. If we have to deal with merit pay as teachers (which we DO because of Race to the Top laws),we should be able to negotiate what merit entails.

TODAY IN MICHIGAN (Wednesday, March 2, 2011):
Lt. Gov. Calley told a legislative panel that taxing pensions is “all about fairness”. There’s that “word” again. What is fair?

A Senate panel worked on the Emergency Manager package and it is expected to move to the floor of the Senate. This bill gives broad powers to Emergency Managers when a township, city, or school goes bankrupt. Among other things, the appointed Emergency Manager could totally eradicate any bargained contract in effect. The bill was approved by the Michigan House last Wednesday. (That’s what the rally was about last Tuesday and Wednesday)
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IMPORTANT: The House Education Committee, headed by Bill Rogers from Brighton, voted 12-7 (along party lines) to report out HB 4152. This bill freezes teachers’ salaries and benefit levels during contract negotiations. Our local legislator, Lisa Brown, is also on this committee. She is a Democrat and presumably voted against it since it was reported that the vote followed party lines.

Educators in Michigan need to stay alert and be prepared to educate our legislators and governor regarding what is fair. Governor Snyder says he doesn't want to do what the Wisconsin governor is doing, but there are many different roads to restricted bargaining rights. Now is not a time for complacency.

NOW Snyder says his salary report was not an "apples-to-apples" comparison

AS REPORTED BY THE MIRS Capital Capsule - Saturday, February 26th, 2011
Gov. Rick SNYDER in a letter to state employees today defended the numbers he released in late January comparing public and private compensation.

The numbers came from a study by the Andersen Economic Group that did not adjust for factors like level of education and years worked at a job, and the Governor admitted it was not an "apples to apples" comparison.

In an email to state employees today, Snyder defended his use of the numbers, saying ". . . my point was not to make an apples-to-apples jobs comparison but instead take a look at how total public compensation compares to the total compensation of the working public that supports government."

He said that there were far more numbers in his presentation, including information on outdated infrastructure and the non-sustainability of the state's current spending. But he blames the media for not getting that information out.

"Unfortunately, the compensation story took on a life of its own in the media, diverting attention away from the real issues," said Snyder in his email. "You should hear my position directly, as opposed to the media reports and representations."

He said that while there were a few cases of public employees getting less compensation than those in the private sector, there were many more cases where total compensation was higher in the private sector.

He also reminded employees of the shared sacrifice included in the budget, and urged them to "trust in the process."

MY QUESTION: How do we "trust the process" as the governor requests when he allows this study to STAND AS IS, without reporting the problems with it, for over a month?

CONTINUE TO WRITE GOVERNOR SNYDER!!!!

Here is how to contact Governor Snyder:
Please be sure to use your HOME EMAILS and/or CELL or HOME PHONES!

Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov

PHONE: (517) 373-3400
PHONE: (517) 335-7858 - Constituent Services
FAX:(517) 335-6863

LANSING RALLY - Saturday, February 26th - NOON at the Capitol Building

ANNOUNCEMENT:
The MEA is JOINED the "MoveOn" RALLY on SATURDAY, February 26th, 12 NOON at the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing!

More Information from MoveOn.org:
Moments like these don't come along often.

Newly-elected Tea Party governor Scott Walker thought he could slash the Wisconsin state budget and dismantle 50 years of workers' rights without a fight, but boy was he wrong.
Hundreds of thousands of regular Wisconsinites-teachers, firefighters, police officers, students-have taken to the streets of Madison. They've occupied the capitol building for the last 7 days and nights.

But this isn't just about Wisconsin. In state capitals across the country, and in Washington, D.C., Republicans are using the wrecked economy as an excuse to slash vital programs and hurt workers. The American Dream itself is under attack.

So we're helping lead an emergency call for rallies in every state capital this Saturday at noon to support folks in Wisconsin and oppose these attacks, wherever they occur.

From my own perspective, the walk is to support everyone's rights in a democracy to express their own opinions and join together with others with similar interests. Businesses hire lobbyists to represent their concerns. Politicians join political parties to join others to reflect their wishes and concerns. Workers, be they teachers, fireman, whomever...... should also have the right to join together to represent their wishes and concerns.

The Saturday rally is not only to support Wisconsin workers, but to let everyone know that WE will not tolerate similar assaults to our rights to organize.

For more information regarding Wisconsin, begin with my blog post below or google "Wisconsin governor"....news will come up!

A Short Synopsis of the Proposed Michigan Budget Cuts as Proposed by the Governor

A short summary of spending cuts proposed by Governor Snyder in his BUDGET ADDRESS at 11 a.m. today –
A total cut of $1.5 billion in cuts will be presented to the State Legislature.

A total cut of $470 per student for public schools. A savings of $425 million.
**$470 times 15,000 students (approx. population of WLCSD) = $7,050,00 Loss for WLCSD

An additional $85.6 million of cuts in categorical and district specific funding (I don’t have specifics).

Intermediate school district funding has been reduced by 5 percent

A 15 percent cut ($222 million) for higher education. To protect students, $83 million will be set aside to reward universities that keep tuition and fee increases below a five-year average.

Eliminating revenue sharing payments for cities, villages, and townships. A savings of $92.1 million.

A fund of $200 million to use as incentive payments for cities, villages, and townships that adopt “best practices” ( I don’t have specifics.)

Governor’s pay will be $1.

Public Sector Unions Under Attack

Public sector unions and their rights to collective bargaining are under attack in our surrounding states! Read about Wisconsin and Ohio.

WISCONSIN
Wisconsin's governor sent a letter to all public employees announcing his proposed bill that can be described in no other terms but "union busting".
CLICK HERE TO READ THE WISCONSIN LETTER.

In reaction to the Wisconsin governor's proposals, testimony was given and a rally was held at Wisconsin's State Capital today. Here is the link to an article describing the protests held at Wisconsin's State Capital today.

Click here to read about Wisconsin's anti-collective bargaining proposals.

This article is also available on the WLEA Facebook page.

OHIO

In Ohio a Senate bill, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Shannon Jones, would eliminate collective bargaining rights and salary schedules for public employees across the state. GOP Gov. John Kasich has expressed his support for the bill in concept, but he has also signaled he may bring forth his own plan that could go even further.

Union members packed Ohio's State House today to protest the proposed changes.
Click here to read about the union busting attempts in Ohio.

This article can also be read on the WLEA Facebook Page.

You can contact Governor Snyder and urge him NOT to follow in the steps of the Ohio and Wisconsin state governments!

Here is how to contact Governor Snyder:
Please be sure to use your HOME EMAILS and/or CELL or HOME PHONES!

Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov

PHONE: (517) 373-3400
PHONE: (517) 335-7858 - Constituent Services
FAX:(517) 335-6863

The SURPLUS in the School Aid Fund

There is a surplus in the State’s School Aid Fund…….it could be as much as $670 million dollars. And yet, this money may not come to K-12 Schools. In fact, last year, the “surplus” that was in the State School Aid Fund did NOT come to K-12 Schools. Last year the money was taken from the fund and given to the Community Colleges.

What creates this “surplus”? Basically the legislature holds down the support they give K-12 schools and calls what is left in the fund, the “excess”. Shouldn’t there be no excess? This money was designated to be spent for public schools and should be spent there. How can they manipulate this money?

Technically, and I am not an expert on State Funding ins and outs, but Community College funding is supposed to come from the General Fund, not the School Aid Fund. Using a “loop hole” or some other shenanigans that they are allowed to use, the State can take money from the School Aid Fund and give it to Community Colleges instead of using General Fund money. The General Fund is in deficit, no doubt, but is taking money from K-12 the answer? Not that I am for funding increases, but Community Colleges can raise tuition and charge other fees to make more money. K-12 Public schools can NOT raise tuition and can not charge fees for attendance. The only money we can go to the community and request is for bonds for buildings and sinking funds. These funds can not be used for salaries or insurance, etc. So, it can’t help reduce class size.

Our NEW GOVERNOR has already said that it seems reasonable to him to use the “excess” in the School Aid Fund to bolster community college funding. Pretty much he says that education is education.

But you can look around Walled Lake, is there really an “excess” of funding in our school district? Class sizes are beyond acceptable. I find it very hard to swallow that there is a “surplus” in the school aid fund, particularly when the funds from the ARRA program won’t be available next year to offset the loss of dollars that were sent to community colleges.

WE ALL NEED TO WRITE GOVERNOR SNYDER TODAY! You need to tell him there is no excess in funding of K-12 schools. Tell him:
1) Walled Lake lost over $4 million dollars in funding per year for the 20J cut.
2) Walled Lake class sizes are well over acceptable numbers. Tell him how many kids you have in your classrooms this year compared to previous years.
3) Tell him what these high class sizes mean to your teaching and other services you provide.
4) Tell him that the citizens in Michigan designated this money for K-12 Education and for the state to send it to a college that has the ability to charge tuition is unacceptable.

Here is how to contact Governor Snyder:
Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov
Please be sure to use your HOME EMAILS and/or CELL or HOME PHONES!

PHONE: (517) 373-3400
PHONE: (517) 335-7858 - Constituent Services
FAX:(517) 335-6863