Emergency Financial Manager Package Passes

From an e-mail sent to local leaders:

Thank you to all that helped us fill the capital, the phone lines or email boxes of legislators yesterday and today. Some of us went back this morning to make one last push. As you have probably heard the Emergency Financial Manager package passed about 1:30 today. Now some will say that was a waste. I say NO, it was not. I have never seen so much solidarity between unions here in Michigan. It was not just at the top level but all through labor. Standing on the second level of the rotunda, the positive energy was amazing. Brothers and sisters together united for one cause.

A big thank you goes out to our Democratic legislators. They offered every trick in the book to slow the train and derail the legislation. Hats off to them! If you have a chance thank them for their efforts.

We lost the battle but the war is not over. I attended the second hearing on SB. 4306. This is the bill that requires the bidding and privatizing of support staff in school districts. They did not get to all of the testimony and will be continuing it next Wednesday. There is more legislation just as degrading. I believe the war is winnable but it will call for our highest level of solidarity not only with other unions but within our own.

Keep watching your email for updates and checking the web site for current information.

Iris