Ask Whitmer to veto tax break for wealthy, invest in kids instead

Our state’s elected leaders should invest in children, seniors and working families in need — and that’s why we’re calling on MEA members to contact the governor’s office and urge her to veto Senate Bill 768, which would provide tax breaks for Michigan’s wealthiest individuals and corporations and cause drastic budget shortfalls for students and […]

Educators urge Whitmer to veto tax break for corporations and the wealthy

State leaders should invest in children, working families and seniors in need LANSING —Michigan’s education unions issued the following statement Thursday urging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to veto Senate Bill 768, which would provide tax breaks for Michigan’s wealthiest individuals and corporations while causing drastic budget shortfalls for students and educators. The following can be attributed […]

Urge Lawmakers to Support New ‘Putting Workers First’ Legislation

The Michigan Legislative Labor Caucus has introduced legislation that would empower educators and other working Michiganders and restore many of the rights stripped from them over the years.  Among other critical reforms, the 34-bill package would give school employees a voice in important decisions impacting their classrooms and jobs — including making teacher evaluations an […]

Tell Politicians to Stop Dividing Parents, Educators

Instead of focusing on real issues facing our schools – like the educator shortage and student mental health concerns – some politicians continue attempting to drive wedges between parents and educators for short-term political points.  Last week, Senate Republicans passed a resolution affirming parent rights in their children’s education (something that isn’t actually being threatened), focusing on […]

Invest in Students, Not Tax Breaks

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is proposing the largest funding increase for public education in 20 years, with proposals to recruit and retain educators, increase per-student spending, rebuild mental health supports, expand preschool access, and fund school construction and renovations.  In contrast, initial Republican proposals focus on massive tax breaks, especially for corporations and the wealthy.  Such plans are […]

58th Annual MEA/MAEA Art Purchase Exhibit 

MEA and the Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA) are seeking entries for their 58th annual juried art purchase show. The exhibit—to acquire artwork to enhance the MEA headquarters complex in East Lansing and MEA regional and UniServ offices throughout the state—provides an opportunity to display art by MAEA, MEA, or MEA-Retired members in good standing. […]

Higher Ed Union Elevates Member Voices

The pressures of COVID have reinforced a belief long held by David Schneider, a Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) professor and the faculty union’s chief negotiator for 25 years: “Not everything needs to be negotiated for us to have a voice.” Funding in three federal COVID-relief packages included tens of millions of dollars for Michigan […]

Meeting the Mental Health Challenge

  Schools in Michigan are looking to hire hundreds of mental health professionals to address a huge explosion of need from young people in the pandemic—part of a $240 million initiative signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in this year’s state school aid budget. Even before the global health crisis—which has killed close to 900,000 Americans and […]