Tactics

“A crisis exists at any point during the bargaining process that

you believe your team won’t get all that it has proposed.”

--Larry MacQueen, MEA Bargaining Consultant

Local media outlets often report a “crisis” existing, but it’s only after the MEA says one does.  The MEA publishes a monthly “Critical List” and now we can see why districts are listed there.  The school board will not (or financially cannot) bend to every demand of the union negotiators, and thus, a crisis exists.

MEAexposed.com has obtained training information which is a good indicator of how school leaders will be treated when the union is not getting its way.  This is a mp3 recording (transcript here) of a MEA training session entitled, “Applying Pressure Tactics and Strategies to Leverage Positive Bargaining Outcomes.”  The session has continued until at least last year, as this flyer indicates.

While this is not a Michigan-unique document, it puts another piece in the tactics puzzle.  This is a “Strategy Directives” guide for the Indiana State Teachers Association and can point to what may be happening in Michigan communities and why.

Hypocrisy In Action

Privatization

Think that “local” campaign against a plan to save money through contracting is unique?  Think again.  The plan, right down to the talking points, schedule, and button design comes from this “Beat Privatization” manual.  They also prepare and distribute flyers, such as this one, to scare the public and spread misinformation.

The MEA is only against privatization when it affects their bottom line.  When it helps them, they have no problem contracting for services.  Back to the LM-2, on page 103 of 148, they reported paying Dietz Janitorial Service, Inc. of Lansing $20,700 for "janitorial" work.  They also contracted with Ellis Cleaning Co. of Lansing for "janitorial" work to the tune of $107,728.  $12,881 was paid to H&M Landscaping of Swartz Creek for "maintenance."  "Plowing and Salting Lots" is one of the explanations for $26,676 being paid to Landmark Lawn & Landscape Inc. of Haslett.

The MEA deserves credit for contracting to use resources efficiently.  It makes one wonder why it is good enough for them, but unacceptable for local school districts to do the same.

Health Insurance Concessions

The MEA often complains to the local media that school boards are attempting to rob teachers of their benefits and no "rollbacks" are acceptable.

So when the MEA was negotiating the latest contract with its employees, represented by the United Staff Organization--the union for union employees--what were they hoping for?  Rollbacks.  Specifically, making it more difficult for retirees to receive fully paid health insurance.  Tom Greene, longtime USO president, said during a 1996 employee strike, "It's a sad day when a union acts like the management it opposes.  I just hope they learn being union is not situational.  You can't be union in public and management behind closed doors," he said in Peter Brimelow's book, "The Worm in the Apple."

"I find it totally horrendous when that is the same issue that the MEA has been fighting on behalf of MEA membership," Greene told MIRS newsservice during the 2007 strike threat.  Greene called the MEA's efforts "hypocritical."

Have a document that spells out the MEA’s tactics?  Send it to us and we’ll post it here.