let me guess, that's when the ones that came up with the idea retire...
Posted on 02/04/2013 3:54:41 PM PST by MichCapCon
With a year left on its contract, the Western Michigan University's professors' union is trying to get a 9-year extension done by the March deadline that would give union members the right to not pay dues or fees as a condition of employment at the school.
That would lock everyone represented by that union into paying dues or fees until 2023.
Michigan Capitol Confidential obtained a draft of the proposal of the plan, which was verified by union members. It was drafted Jan. 23. The agreement would be a collective bargaining agreement known as a “union security agreement” (USA) that would be separate from the regular contract that covered wages and benefits.
In the current contract, WMU professors who fail to comply with the provision forcing them to pay dues or an agency fee to the union are suspended for two days without pay.
Part of the memo being circulated predicts dire consequences for the union if its members are given a choice as to stay with the union.
"Without a new USA, significant reduction in membership dues support is likely in the wake of RTW …" reads the memo that covers frequently asked questions.
Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, said he thinks the legislature could take action against colleges that try to circumvent the right-to-work law.
Rep. McMillin said he thinks the legislature could restrict funds to colleges through the state’s Economic Vitality Incentive Program, which is described by the state as an incentive-based grant program that replaces traditional statutory revenue sharing.
"WMU could end up getting less from the state in their appropriations," Rep. McMillin wrote in an email.
The union security agreement would have to be passed before March 27 to be allowed. That's the date when the right-to-work laws take effect.
WMU Spokeswoman Cheryl Roland said Friday that the administration had not received the proposal from the union and couldn't comment.
The next Western Michigan University Board of Trustee's meeting is scheduled for Feb. 27.
Joni Jones, a former Western Michigan University professor, said she received the proposal from current union members. One union member who wanted to remain anonymous confirmed the proposal was being circulated among union members.
President Matt Mingus and Vice President Lisa Minnick of the Western Michigan University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (WMU-AAUP) didn't respond to a request for comment. WMU trustee Michelle Crumm said she didn't want to comment.
After Capitol Confidential posted it's story, Mingus told MLive that the union has not started negotiating with the university. He did not deny that a 9-year extension was being considered by the union.
RTW Law is making the Union at WMU afraid that it will lose out on its gravy train. To h e double hockey sticks to the Union for the overpaid underworked university professor. Gee you only work part of the year really performing a job. the rest of the time you are a proverbial vacation.
There are Michiganders whom work long hours with less pay and less benefits yet they have to support this travesty to support the useless Union.
Remember the UAW had to sell the golf course that the union dues paid for the union administrative officials to play golf.
I never thought I would see this kind of brilliance out of the Michigan GOP but the RTW law was a master stroke of genius that left the unions with virtually no recourse aside from attacking their own members.
The ACLU and unions do have a suit pending over being locked out during the debate but the court has already said that they were locked out because of their own behavior.
Fire all of them and hire new people.
The Western Michigan teams are called the Broncos. When is Bronco Bama going to weigh in on this vital issue?
let me guess, that's when the ones that came up with the idea retire...
“Remember the UAW had to sell the golf course that the union dues paid for the union administrative officials to play golf.”
There was a pretty good golf course on the west campus in the late 1950s when I was an undergrad at WMU but it was for the pleasure of faculty and students. The faculty in the business school at that time was far from liberal and certainly not unionized. Tuition at the time was in the range of $5 to $6 per credit hour as I recall.
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