Bargaining
Bargaining and enforcing local contracts is at the root of MEA and our advocacy for members and the students they serve. One of the biggest advantages of MEA membership is the service provided directly to members by MEA’s UniServ directors. These highly trained professional labor relations consultants help teachers and education support professionals access a wide variety of services available only to members.
Bargaining News
Flint teachers reach settlement with Flint Community Schools
After months of uncertainty, Flint educators and Flint Community Schools approved a settlement agreement this week that respects the professionalism of Flint teachers and will help attract and retain the quality educators that Flint students need to succeed. “This landmark agreement, reached after nearly 15 hours of collaborative, honest and constructive dialogue, reflects our shared dedication to fostering an environment…
MEA President’s statement on crisis in Flint Community Schools
Students deserve a stable environment where they can count on having a fully qualified teacher in their class from the start of the year to the last day. EAST LANSING — Michigan Education Association President Chandra Madafferi released the following statement Wednesday in response to the Flint Board of Education’s monthslong refusal to ratify a settlement agreement reached between Flint…
Clawson teachers light the way: contract settles all newly restored topics
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor In her nearly 14 years as president of the Clawson Education Association, Kelly Pearson has not bargained a better contract than the one she recently signed. Overwhelmingly approved by membership, the deal struck different responses between early-career and longer-term educators. “Overall, people were happy,” Pearson said of reactions during a meeting to review the…
Educators celebrate long-sought improvements to broken teacher evaluation system
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor “Wonderful news!” “Here’s why we work hard to elect legislators who support public education.” “Elections matter!” “Let’s keep going!” Hundreds of similar comments and shares on MEA’s social media echoed in celebration after the Michigan Legislature approved changes to the state’s broken teacher evaluation system starting next school year. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the…
‘Just amazing’ MEA contract wins continue through summer
Spanish teacher Robert Fenton feels validated by a strong new contract in Flint’s Beecher schools. Soon after teachers in Flint’s Beecher Community School District settled a strong contract, staff at the combined middle/high school enjoyed a visit by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on her back-to-school tour – joined by NEA President Becky Pringle and MEA President Chandra Madafferi. After a decade…
Grosse Ile office clerical unit rebuilds, takes charge
Taking notes after the first bargaining session, (left to right) MEA’s Jimalatice Thomas‑Gilbert, Wendy Robledo‑Castillo, Nicole Litteral, Linda Cobb, Suzi Sanchez‑Honkala, Christina Cobb, Kelly Chessor. Just two years ago, the MEA unit representing 11 office clerical workers in Grosse Ile Township Schools consisted of one member. The group was working without a contract, and the unit faced decertification for low…
Strong contracts emerge in efforts to attract, retain educators
‘The pendulum is finally swinging back’ Last year Angie Pullen began her fourth term as president of a local unit of paraeducators and administrative assistants in Cadillac and saw the fruition of 10 years of effort in the form of a powerful new contract. In Cadillac, the president of the teacher’s union— Dana Jobin, left — and support staff president…
In historic win for educators, state lawmakers restore school employees’ workplace rights
By Brenda Ortega and Zach Crim MEA Public Affairs Rep. Matt Koleszar UPDATE 7/27 – Gov. Whitmer has signed HBs 4044, 4233 and 4354 into law, along with several other bills designed to recruit and retain educators. These new laws will take effect in early 2024. HB 4356 will be sent to Gov. Whitmer for her consideration soon – please…
ESSER Expenditure Deadline Looms Large Over Local Schools
The deadline for spending $5.57 billion of federal money sent to Michigan school districts amid the pandemic looms large in many places that still lag behind the pace needed to allocate those dollars in time. The funding came in the form of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program during the COVID-19 pandemic’s height, largely under President Biden’s…
MEA bargaining tools arm local teams with powerful narratives
As local bargaining teams head to negotiating tables this spring, MEA has new data showing in many places educator compensation has not kept pace with school funding increases, information which could be used to justify significant pay increases. MEA Statewide Bargaining Consultant Craig Culver (left) speaks with Josh Brey, a math teacher at Harbor Springs, during the Northern Michigan Education…