In recent years, we’ve accomplished great things for our students and members — from free meals and increased school funding to restored labor rights and greater educator voice in policy.

We’re proud of those gains, achieved on the heels of a dark time for public education and unions.

(Read more about that recent history in this Voice issue.)

Those victories made it difficult to accept Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s veto of legislation to address rising out-of pocket insurance costs for school and other public employees.

Hours after allies in the state Senate won a case before the Michigan Supreme Court to get nine long-stalled bills presented to the governor, the veto was sudden and shocking to labor groups and lawmakers.

But we must direct our anger and grief toward action.

The fact is most of the gains we’ve made came during the two-year period when Michigan collected a pro-education majority in Lansing. To protect our progress and advance the promise

of public education, we must recommit to electing new friends to another “trifecta” this fall.

To lower health care expenses for public employees, we must elect state senators and representatives who will pass that bill in January — and a governor who will sign it into law.

By organizing our members and our communities, we can elect leaders dedicated to solving real issues facing our schools, from early childhood through higher education.

(Read more about how our members can lead this charge in this issue’s cover story.)

The public is with us. Recent polling shows 73% of voters, with majorities across every party, say Michigan educators do not have the support they need to help every student succeed.

Together, we can and will achieve what’s needed for students and educators alike — starting with victory in this fall’s critical election.

In solidarity always,

Chandra Madafferi, MEA President and CEO

Robert L. Callender, MEA Vice President

Aaron Eling, MEA Secretary-Treasurer