Teachers union leaders would no longer be freed from classroom time under bill before Michigan Senate committee

LANSING, MI ? School districts would no longer be allowed to offer teachers union leaders classroom release time to conduct union business under a bill being considered by a state Senate Committee on Wednesday.

The bill from state Rep. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, cleared the state House a year ago in a 59-47 vote and is scheduled for debate before the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee.

The bill also applies to police and firefighter union leaders, but there is language to cover situations specific to those professions.

It?s a long-time practice for labor contracts to the union president to have some classroom leave time to conduct union business. And in the cases of large districts such as Grand Rapids, the elected union head is freed from all classroom duties.

Knollenberg?s bill allows leave time only if the union pays for a substitute teacher, and full-time classroom releases would be prohibited.

?Taxpayers should not have to pay for the union to do union business,? he said Tuesday.

A National Education Association spokeswoman said release time for union duties is common in districts across the country. The union has a resolution in its basic contract standards saying deals ?should contain certain concepts including release time for association business with full pay and benefits."

Michigan Education Association leaders were unavailable for comment.

Knollenberg's bill wouldn't break any existing contracts, but would prevent such clauses in future pacts.

Knollenberg said it?s taken the bill a year to get over to the Senate because lawmakers needed time to work out a compromise with police and firefighters union leaders and collect enough votes to clear the committee.

Email Dave Murray at dmurray@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter @ReporterDMurray or on Facebook.

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