Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Teacher Speaks Out on Union Bullying
Capitol Confidential ^ | 3/24/2014 | Ted O'Neil

Posted on 03/28/2014 11:17:04 AM PDT by MichCapCon

A Coopersville kindergarten teacher who resigned from the Michigan Education Association under the state's worker freedom law says she is glad her ordeal is over, but is concerned for her colleagues, according to a story in The Grand Rapids Press.

"I am very thankful that the MEA has finally recognized my right to opt out, but my settlement doesn't bring justice to the thousands of other teachers in my position in West Michigan and across the state of Michigan," Miriam Chanski, who along with Petoskey teacher Ray Arthur is now free from the MEA, told The Press.

"This is not an isolated case," she said. "I've heard from many teachers in the state whose circumstances did not allow them to make a public stand."

The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation last fall filed unfair labor practice complaints against the MEA on behalf of Chanski, Arthur and several other teachers at the Michigan Employment Relations Commission. The teachers believed they were being bullied by the union for attempting to exercise their rights under Michigan's right-to-work law, and were told that if they did not pay their dues they would be turned over to a collections agency.

"My credit is safe and my rights were honored. The threat definitely caused a lot of stress in my life," Chanski told The Press.

During a hearing at MERC regarding complaints filed by another teacher, the MEA admitted that about 8,000 teachers statewide have so far have refused to pay their forced union dues in cash or give the union credit card or bank account information as part of its "e-dues" system. The MEA also said it has created a policy to go after those teachers.

"The MEA does not bully or intimidate its members," MEA Communications Director Nancy Knight told The Press.


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: coopersville; mea; michigan; miriamchanski; petoskey; rayarthur; union

1 posted on 03/28/2014 11:17:04 AM PDT by MichCapCon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MichCapCon
I'm so glad she won her fight. Also, she's exceedingly easy on the eyes...


2 posted on 03/28/2014 11:34:06 AM PDT by Mich Patriot (PITCH BLACK is the new "transparent")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MichCapCon

Her credit is safe, but are her kneecaps? Unions play it the legal way only so long as it advances their interests, then they revert to being liberals.


3 posted on 03/28/2014 11:43:49 AM PDT by DPMD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MichCapCon

HHmmmm....I thought you couldn’t Bully at school...


4 posted on 03/28/2014 12:06:38 PM PDT by goodnesswins (R.I.P. Doherty, Smith, Stevens, Woods.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MichCapCon

I despise unions, but reserve a special hatred for teachers’ unions. Absolute bottom of the barrel while pretending to be sweet old school marms. As despicable a lot as exists on Earth.


5 posted on 03/28/2014 12:11:15 PM PDT by EDINVA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goodnesswins

WE HAVE GOT A WINNER!!!

This has been the latest push:
NO BULLYING ZONES for schools-

(of course it is to allow homo’s and lezbo’s
come and go as they want)-

But -just maybe we can apply this to the union thugs!


6 posted on 03/28/2014 12:34:01 PM PDT by mj1234
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MichCapCon

And now they probably think she’s bossy.


7 posted on 03/28/2014 12:39:28 PM PDT by william clark (Ecclesiastes 10:2)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goodnesswins

She won’t be safe at home as a traitor. Our family is poisoned and vandalized.

Riddle: How many communists fit on a church pew?

Answer: About ten fat ass union members.


8 posted on 06/29/2014 9:07:24 AM PDT by flyash
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson