Back in March, I wrote about Michigan Republicans’ efforts to further penalize teachers who go on strike in our state. From the article I linked (no longer available):
State Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Genoa Township, on Tuesday introduced legislation creating penalties for public schoolteachers and the Michigan Education Association for inciting or participating in strikes.House Bill 4466 would fine the Michigan Education Association $5,000 per teacher for each full or partial day public school employees are engaged in a strike or “strike-like activities.”
The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc, also would require school employees to pay a fine equal to one day of pay for every day or partial day they participate in a strike.
House Bill 4465, sponsored by Rogers, would require district superintendents to suspend or revoke teachers’ licenses if teachers are caught breaking existing strike laws.
Did you catch that? It doesn’t fine the teachers. It fines the teachers’ UNION.
Anyway, on Wednesday, the House Education Committee passed HB 4466. And the one they passed is even more punitive toward teachers and the union. Not only that, the sponsor of the bill is already looking into suing the Michigan Education Association, the statewide teachers’ union.
Under the bill, if one or more public school employees strike, their union would be kicked out for five years. A school superintendent or parent could report any strike activity – and, if enacted, a union could be decertified even if no actual strike occurred.The bill would make it illegal for a union or union representative to “solicit or encourage” any public employee to strike or to “conspire” to cause a strike, even if they didn’t actually engage in a work stoppage.
[…]
Rep. Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc, the sponsor of the legislation, said a majority of legislators on the GOP-controlled House Education Committee believe MEA is the “most culpable” for crisis actions around the state.
Scott also threatened legal action against MEA, saying he had talked with the attorney general’s office and “I will be turning over this information to law enforcement.”
Just another day in the New World Michigan Order.
I’m just sayin’…
