FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
August 3, 2016
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Teachers Push Back Against Snyder’s Half-Billion Dollar Rip-Off
GOP legislators stay quiet while Snyder takes money from public school employees
LANSING — Across the state today, teachers, support staff, students and parents are protesting Gov. Rick Snyder’s continued assault on public educator paychecks. Gov. Snyder continues to appeal a case where teachers and staff were awarded $550 million that was unconstitutionally syphoned away from their paychecks, meanwhile legislative Republicans continue to stand by and do nothing to stop it.
“Gov. Snyder needs to stop his appeal and step aside so teachers can bring home the money that they’ve earned to their families and communities. He’s wasting time and money on unjust court cases, which will only result in less money in the pockets of hardworking Michiganders who teach our kids, drive them to school, feed them lunch and ensure their safety,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “This half-billion dollar assault on public education employees has gone unanswered by the Republican legislature, who should stand up to Gov. Snyder and his greedy tactics.”
There are protests today in Detroit, Southfield, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Flint, Mt. Pleasant, Traverse City, Marquette and Escanaba. AFT Michigan and the MEA organized the protests and Progress Michigan is proud to stand with them in solidarity.
“Michigan’s Republican-controlled state government has done nothing but levy one attack after another on the state’s public educators and the staff who support them,” Scott continued. “From Right to Work and underfunding our neighborhood schools, to stifling local control and trying to silence teachers in Detroit, the conservative-led legislature and Snyder administration have shown that they’re on the side of their corporate donors, not the hardworking people who make our state great.”
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