Citizen Lobby Day: June 15th

Start: Thursday, June 15, 2023• 8:30 AM

Please join us for a Citizen Lobby Day on Thursday, June 15th. We will be lobbying legislators on important legislation affecting public sector unions.

The legislature has yet to take action on critical bills that our public sector siblings are depending on.

Under decades of Snyder and Engler administration policies, many rights of public sector workers were taken away. It’s time to restore those rights — it is what those who serve the public deserve.

It’s time to:

  • Restore subjects of bargaining for teachers, including discipline and discharge, performance evaluations standards, teacher placement, process for layoff and recall, and the right for school support staff to negotiate over privatization. (HB 4354-57)

  • Remove penalties against workers after a contract expires and a new contract is not yet in place. (HB 4044)

  • Restore the right of K-12 employees to pay dues through payroll deduction. (HB 4233)

  • Restore the right of Graduate Students Resident Assistants to organize. (SB 185)

  • Require public employers to provide unions with the contact information of the workers they represent (SB 169).

  • Restore the right of Detroit Federation of Teachers to bargain wages for teachers hired after September 2019. (SB 359)

  • Restore the right of public employees to fully bargain for health care. (not yet introduced)

  • Restoring fairness to teacher tenure decisions by reestablishing “just cause.” (not yet introduced)

We will begin our meeting at the Central United Methodist Church. After a brief training and orientation, we will walk over to the Michigan Legislature where will will lobby legislators on our targeted bills. Prospective schedule below:  

  • 8:30 AM Doors Open

  • 9:15 AM Lobbyist Orientation Begins

  • 10:00 AM Meet with legislators, attend legislative hearings/session

  • 12:30 PM Break for lunch at Central United Methodist Church

  • 1:00 PM Meet with legislators, attend legislative hearings/session

  • 3:30 PM Debrief and wrap up

Please RSVP here and contact Holly at (616) 902-5279 if you have any questions.