At Issue
MEA Board, Spring RA act to assist 350 fired Southfield ESP members
This message was one of hundreds of postcards sent by Spring RA delegates to Southfield Board of Education
members, condemning their action to fire 350 Southfield ESP members.
MEA Board members and Spring Representative Assembly delegates took action to assist the 350 Southfield ESP employees whose jobs were outsourced to out-of-state companies.
The Southfield Board of Education on April 22 rejected an $18 million offer from the ESP members and voted 5-2 to fire the district’s custodial, food service and transportation employees, selling their jobs to private companies.
Two days later in a stirring speech, Southfield ESP President Michael Graves told fellow MEA Board members that “we need one vision, and that means having everyone together” to fight privatization.
“This was all about union busting,” Graves said. “The administration got it in their minds, set their hooves in the ground and made the decision to get rid of us. They turned their faces to any concessions we made—they didn’t want them. This was all pre-planned.”
Graves warned that privatization attempts will spread across the state. “If they can do this to us, they can do it to you, too.”
He vowed to fight privatization. “We started this fight because it was right,” Graves said about negotiations with Southfield administrators to prevent outsourcing. “Our folks just wanted their jobs. We must do whatever we can to maintain the dignity and respect for my members. Because of you (the MEA Board) and the people I represent, I’m ready to keep fighting.”
Both the MEA Board and Spring Representative Assembly voted to assist Southfield ESP members during the crisis. From the RA floor on April 26, Bellaire teacher Dan Bennett said teachers need to show their support for ESP members and help fight privatization. “We as teachers have to stand up and do something,” he said.
Southfield ESP members, whose jobs the district says will end June 30, are exploring their options.