Gov. Snyder signs dues collection bill; teachers union leaders call move 'blatant political retribution'

By Dave Murray/MLive 

LANSING – School districts are no longer allowed to deduct union dues and fees from employee paychecks, a move teachers union leaders call “blatant political retribution.”

Gov. Rick Snyder today signed the bill, which was opposed by the unions, but also by school board representatives who said it wasn’t difficult for them to deduct the dues.

House Bill 4929, sponsored by state Rep. Joseph Haveman, R-Holland, also requires unions representing public employees file with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission an independent audit of spending attributed to the cost of collective bargaining, contract administration and grievances.

“This legislation furthers the goal of good government by promoting greater transparency and ensuring that public resources are used solely for their intended purposes,” Snyder said in a release.

“It is essential that state public school resources be devoted to the education of our children. This continues the fiscal reforms designed to save schools money and help them operate even more efficiently.”

Teachers union leaders blasted the bill and the governor, and vowed to challenge the new law in court.

“I want to know how a governor who talks about labor peace would sign a bill that is blatant political retribution,” said Doug Pratt, the public affairs director for the Michigan Education Association.

“This bill does nothing to accomplish the things the governor said he wants to focus on. It doesn’t create a single job and can actually cost districts money.”

Schools currently collecting dues or service fees under collective bargaining agreements may continue to do so until the contract expires or is terminated, extended or renewed.

Doug Pratt

Pratt said union leaders have not determined how they will collect dues. He also said the union’s legal team is investigating how lawmakers can single out teachers unions.

The new law is the latest union defeat at the hands of the Republican-dominated Legislature.

Pratt pointed to a list of about 80 bills he said are aimed at crippling unions.

Last week Snyder signed a bill preventing university graduate assistants from unionizing, and earlier the union lost the ability to collect contributions for its political action committee through payroll deductions.

Union-opposed measures reforming tenure and linking evaluations to student performance also were signed into law this year.

The union backed a successful effort to recall the chairman of the House Education Committee, Rep. Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc, but voters recently replaced Scott with another Republican.

In response to the Republican-backed bills, union leaders now are backing a petition drive to ensure collective bargaining as a right guaranteed to employees under the Michigan Constitution.

The "Protect Our Jobs" campaign began this month with a goal of collecting the 322,609 signatures needed to get the issue on the November ballot. Organizers have until July 9 to file the signatures with the Secretary of State.

The ballot initiative would add a section to the state Constitution outlining the people's right to "organize together to form, join or assist labor organizations, and to bargain collectively with a public or private employer" as permitted under federal statute.

Additionally, the new language would prohibit the Legislature from enacting laws restricting collective bargaining. 
Michigan Association of School Board leaders have said the payroll deduction process is not complicated or expensive, especially when districts are already deducting some expenses during payroll.