"I have a stable of attorneys in Lansing who are ready to fight the fight."

--Luigi Battaglieri, executive director, Michigan Education Association, August 30, 2005

The Problem

Inefficiencies in school districts have been accentuated by the fact that Michigan's economy has been one of the worst in the country. There are areas in school budgets where real savings can -- and must -- be found. This page will serve as a portal to educate the public on the issues facing school boards across Michigan, the tactics unions are using, and the ways local school boards are making a difference.

What's the big deal about MESSA?

Just why exactly, you ask, do union members fight so hard for MESSA insurance coverage? Because apparently they can't live without coverage for such things as sex-change operations and massages.

According to this article, Centerville Schools switched to Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance from MESSA, which is simply repackaged Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance in the first place. They're saving $200,000-$250,000 a year -- that's more than $200 per student. The difference in the coverage? According to the article, "There are only three areas where Centerville employees no longer receive coverage: sex-change operations, massages and a treatment for Christian Science practitioners." It's surprising the union is willing to damage its reputation, stall negotiations and cause such strife in local communities over such an issue as their insurance middleman.

Another point to note is that the union has conditioned their members into believing that it is better to receive the union-sponsored health care than a raise--these days, when a contract is negotiated, a typically smaller raise is given when MESSA is kept in the contract. Translation: Money in the union's pocket is better than money in the member's pocket.

It will save money, but won't privatization bring danger into my school?

In a word, no. This is an argument local MEA affiliates across the state have used as a way to stoke fear and concern in communities.

Contracting for non-instructional services is a growing trend in public schools because boards are realizing there are reliable companies out there that can do the work just as well--if not better--for a fraction of the cost. The NEA's "Beat Privatization" guide instructs union affiliates to say that by contracting "strangers" will be working in the schools, and people who aren't "from the community" will be allowed to interact with children. To the contrary, one contracting company found that they had hired more people from within the district than the school district had previously.

It turns out most--if not all--the companies that contract services in Michigan's schools also do more extensive background checks and drug tests than districts do.

Another argument the union tries to peddle is that districts will "lose control" by contracting with a company. Quite the contrary. By hiring a private company, that company is held responsible and if an employee is not meeting the work standard, they can be instantly replaced. If a company is not meeting their contractual obligations, they can be replaced. It's funny that a union--who will even defend workers who have been found to have porn on their classroom computer--will argue the district will somehow lose total control over their employees. Ever heard of tenure?

What we're really seeing across Michigan is an offended union realizing that they aren't simply entitled to jobs and districts facing the money crunch are attempting to use their dollars as efficiently as possible. Taxpayers across Michigan ought to expect that of every district in our state.

We're certainly no shill for companies that contract for school work, we think it's right to expose flimsy union arguments when all they're really concerned about is evaporating dues dollars.

GRAND RAPIDS DOCUMENTS:

GRPS 2008 Benefits Breakdown

Holton side-by-side MESSA comparison