Enough is enough!

MEA unveils strategic action plan to help schools

Enough is enough!

That’s the message behind a three-phase collective action plan developed by MEA to counter ongoing attacks on public education.

As school employees across Michigan well know, years of budget crises in Lansing have robbed students of the public education they need and deserve. Elected leaders at the state and local levels have resorted to short-term solutions – budget cuts, wage freezes and reductions, benefit reductions, layoffs, privatization, program cuts, proposals to change retirement benefits – that fail to address the massive structural budget deficit that looms.

Meanwhile, it seems that no matter what public employees do to help – concessions at the bargaining table, suggesting long-term budget fixes, personally subsidizing drained classroom supply budgets so students can learn – criticism mounts.

“The time has come to stand together and fight back with one voice, statewide,” said MEA President Iris K. Salters. “The time has come to use the strength of our members and the strength of our numbers to send a clear message to our state Legislature: Enough is enough!”

The plan’s goal is simple – to stop the constant attacks by securing adequate, equitable, and stable funding for public education.

The plan, already under way, offers members multiple opportunities to get involved – from coordinated local activities to targeted political efforts across the state, Salters said.

The first phase will create awareness and build consensus for collective action. For MEA members, this will mean activities such as holding membership meetings, talking with other education stakeholders, beginning local collective activities, and attending local lobby days with lawmakers.

The second phase is intended to press elected leaders – to show the power that comes from 155,000 MEA members. This phase will kick off at the association’s Spring Representative Assembly, where delegates will deliver the “Enough is enough” message. Delegates will bring hundreds of postcards from their colleagues back home and deliver them personally to the Capitol April 23.

In May, local associations will hold membership meetings and plan coordinated, simultaneous rallies. The rallies will take place on May 24.

The third phase calls for a mass statewide rally in Lansing on June 24.

Members, leaders and staff will also be involved in extensive political outreach in the upcoming primary and general elections.

“There is something in this plan for every MEA member,” Salters said.

A March 10 Webcast (watch it now) provided an overview of the plan for local leaders and staff. Local plans are under development; ask your association president and MEA UniServ director (or executive director) what activities are scheduled and how you can help.

MEA Board members were briefed March 12.

“It is time to act,” Salters said. “It’s time to send the message: Enough is enough! It’s time to fight back!”

Updated: March 23, 2010