GRAND RAPIDS – In December, Michigan became the 24^th Right to Work state in America. When its law takes effect in March, public and private employees will no longer be forced to financially support unions.

Jared Rodriguez of the West Michigan Policy Forum writes for Mlive.com:

The unlikely battle over workplace fairness and equality for all Michigan workers was bravely taken on and passed by the state’s legislature and signed by Governor Snyder in December.

The world is now put on notice that Michigan is a state committed to rebuilding its economy. Our state budget is balanced, business taxes are more competitive, the regulatory process is consistently under review and now we’re the nations 24th Freedom (Right) to Work state.

The West Michigan Policy Forum (WMPF), which had advocated for making Michigan a freedom to work state since 2008, accomplished one of its top priorities. More importantly, workers have gained the freedom to choose whether or not they want to join a union.

Unfortunately, some union bosses are seeking to wage war on their own members, as another leaked memo from Michigan Education Association’s (MEA), Steven Cook, proves.

Cook’s memo outlines a series of tactics to challenge the new law and remove his members’ newfound choice by locking as many school employees as possible into long-term, dues- mandatory contracts before the freedom to work law takes effect on March 23.

He also details how the MEA plans to threaten teachers and other members if they try to opt out of their previously mandatory memberships at any time other than August, which is the only month applications permit resigning from the union.

Way to “represent” and “advocate” for your members, right?

In fact, his memo goes to great lengths to discuss MEA’s strategy for clinging to power, spending member dollars on continuing the ‘right to work’ legal battle while continuing to drain our educators’ paychecks, whether they want to be in the union or not.