Collective Bargaining Works - HB 5354

HB 5354 - Collective bargaining works! http://bit.ly/61VTgA
In January 2006, Holland teachers were involuntarily switched to a non MESSA health care plan. A few months later, the teachers NEGOTIATED a contract that switched their insurance back to MESSA. Because the teachers switched back to their NEGOTIATED MESSA, the Holland School District has SAVED over $700,000 to date. HB5354 takes away the ability and right for public employees to collectively bargain what is best for the local association and their needs. Contact your legislators and tell them to stop wasting time on HB5354 and focus on fixing education funding by creating new revenue sources and closing tax loopholes!

Imposed non-MESSA plan cost vs. Negotiated MESSA Plan cost

2006-2007 $4,087,629 $3,996,565
2007-2008 $3,875,729 $3,673,836
2008-2009 $3,979,08 $3,651,437
2009-2010 $4,083,624 $4,003,128

TOTAL $16,026,063 $15,324,966

Three year savings from negotiated MESSA plan vs. district imposed plan = $701,097

Our work isn't done yet!

Thank you teachers for all the work you have been doing to communicate with legislators on school funding and other important issues that impact K12 public education. Our work is not over yet. Please continue to contact your representative and tell them;

1. It's time to pass a K-12 budget for this year. We are a quarter through our fiscal school year with no budget passed. It is time to get this done for our schools.
2. Pass a budget that contains no reductions over last year's revenue.
3. Don't tie up this process with all sorts of unneeded and added amendments that only confound the problems our schools now face without an approved budget for the year.

HEA helps sway House vote on K-12 cuts!

There’s no way to fully thank the lobbying efforts of HEA members. You had an impact!

However, our work isn’t over yet. We must continue the fight to make sure a budget that invests in students is passed as soon as possible.


Continue to contact your legislators from your home phones or cell phones after school because the calls are making a difference. Ask them to give us a balanced budget without cuts in school funding. Urge your elected leaders to oppose efforts to slash education funding, and instead support tax reforms and other means of raising revenue so we can invest in the schools that will prepare students for the jobs Michigan needs.


Also, HB 5345 is not dead. The Dillon Plan only creates big government. We have been able to keep our insurance costs down in Ottawa county by bargaining at the local level.


Dave Agema - 74th State House
517-373-8900
daveagema@house.mi.gov

Arlan Meekhof – 89th State House
888-238-1008
517-373-0838
arlanbmeekhof@house.mi.gov

Joseph Haveman – 90th State House
866-908-4347
517-373-0830
josephhaveman@house.mi.gov

Senator Wayne Kuipers
517-373-2751
senwkuipers@senate.mi.gov

Health Insurance Under Attack

Our bargaining rights, our health care benefits and even another attack on the local control of our public schools is in the headlines every day. The Andy Dillon idea of a state wide health care plan for all state employees simply can not be allowed to happen! Please go to: www.mea.org and become familiar with the Andy Dillon health care plan. While you are on the MEA web site please write your representatives and voice your opposition to the Dillon plan. The two major aspects to focus on are: 1.) bargaining rights....we wish to maintain our legal right to bargain our health care benefits at the bargaining table 2.) local control of our school district....we do not wish for the State of Michigan to control our health care benefits as we view this as an attack on our ability to control our schools locally. If you have not sent letter(s) to your representatives please do so. For more information, watch the following videos taken at a rally on the Capitol steps this summer. Click here to watch the videos.

Protect your health insurance rights

House Speaker Andy Dillon proposed a statewide health insurance pool for all public employees--including school employees. Regardless of the health care coverage you bargained with your school district, you would receive benefits that the state determines you should have.

To learn more about the negative impacts on your rights, go to www.mea.org/voiceonline

Contact your representative and tell them that you oppose this proposal.

HEA Scholarship

On May 28, 2009 the HEA awarded its 10th Annual Holland High School Scholarship. Our 2009 Scholarship winner is Caroline Meyer. Caroline is the daughter of HEA member Gloria Meyer. Next year Caroline will be using her $500.00 scholarship at Ohio University. Congratulations Caroline Meyer.

Letter to the Holland Sentinel

Thank you Patti and to the many other HPS teachers who dedicate their lives and work to the children of Holland. We all strive to achieve what Mrs. Patti Arndt has accomplished over her career. To read Mrs. Arndt's letter, click here.