Late last week before leaving for Europe, Gov. Snyder signed HB 4929, making it illegal for school districts to bargain with their employees' contract language allowing for payroll deduction of dues. The legislation, which passed both chambers of the Legislature the day after the announcement of the Protect Our Jobs campaign to preserve collective bargaining rights in the state constitution, only applies to K-12 public school employees. It has immediate effect, but allows for the practice to continue where there are existing contracts.
This is a blatant example of political retribution, with lawmakers shoving through a bill as retaliation for people standing up for their rights. MEA, along with other school employee unions, is looking at potential legal challenges to this law (now known as Public Act 53 of 2012).
