UNDATED (WJRT) -
(02/05/13) - Teachers unions across the state are stepping up efforts to make
changes to their current contracts before the controversial Right to Work law
takes effect.
But some groups say they're taking that effort too far.
"It's not a circumvention of the law, we are following the law, but at the
same time trying to protect ourselves," said Michigan Education Association
President Steve Cook.
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland disagrees.
"The teachers unions are attempting to get around the Right to Work law by
putting in what are known as security agreements, meaning dues have to be paid
before effective date of the law. So instead of the typical three years of a
collective bargaining agreement, they're looking at doing them for nine or 10
years," said Pat Wright of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Those provisions, called 'agency shop protections', would lock non-union
members into paying their dues long after the Right to Work law is in effect.
"The rub here is the idea that we now have with Right to Work free loaders
that can come in receive the negotiated salary, receive the protections the
contract offers with respect to grievances and arbitration and not have to pay a
single penny for any of that," Cook said.
The MEA said the Taylor School District in Wayne County has an agreement with
its school board for a side bar agreement. "It's important to note the side fair
share contracts are not letters of agreement, these are actual ratifications."
"It's an extraordinary move, but obviously the unions feel very strongly they
don't like the right to work laws," Wright said.
We have confirmed at least one other Genesee County school district also
looking to revisit their contract as well.
