MEA staffers' salaries rise as local teachers sacrifice

 

Union leaders receive raises averaging 19 percent over five years

The March 7 issue of the Lansing State Journal reported that the Michigan Education Association (MEA) has awarded a series of raises to the union leaders averaging 19 percent over five years. This happened during a period where their members are losing jobs and benefits, and are seeing flat or declining wages.

That's the cost of doing business, said Doug Pratt, MEA director of communications. "Do we compensate our officers well? Do we compensate our managers well? Yes," he said. "We believe in attracting and recruiting the best possible candidates."

"They're one of the most powerful teachers' unions in the country, and that's probably what those salaries tell you," said Michael Van Beek, director of education policy for the Mackinac Center, a conservative Midland-based think tank.

He said the MEA, like the United Auto Workers or any other union, is responsible for its members' best interests. But there's a key difference.

Teachers, whose dues fund the union, are paid with public money.

By 2008-09, 343 MEA employees earned an average of $89,612 each - an increase of nearly 19 percent.

MEA President Iris Salters was paid $239,105 in fiscal year 2008-09, the most recent year for which figures are available on documents submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor. That's up from $208,298 in 2007-08.

Salters is one of three officers approved by the union's board of directors. Others are Vice President Steven Cook, who made $195,024, and secretary-treasurer Margaret McClellan, who was paid $147,770.

Executive director Luigi Battaglieri, a hired administrator, earned $215,326.
The article points out that MEA officials' salaries are higher than those of other public unions in Michigan and of state education associations in neighboring states, such as Illinois and Ohio.

After Tuesday’s State Board of Education meeting, MEA president Iris Salter defended the raises to reporters. She conceded that presented a bit of a public relations problem but in the scheme of things, "It's the least of my worries" she told Tim Skubik.

It's possible, she admits, that some lawmakers may use the issue to block the union's efforts to raise the sales tax on services, saying why should legislators raise more money that will go into higher salaries for labor leaders?

"We are a private company," she told MIRS and state dollars are not involved. She did concede that MEA salaries come from union dues and that is money teachers earn from the state. 

She said union leaders get a paycheck based on what the board of directors decides, "nothing more, nothing less."

Read the salaries article…

MEA Privatizes own custodial services

A related article revealed that the MEA, who fights vigorously efforts to privatize school services, uses a nonunion firm - Ellis Cleaning of Lansing - to keep its East Lansing headquarters clean. It paid the company $114,000 for work during 2008-09.

Read the privatized custodial services article…