© 2026 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Court: No Limit To Michigan School Union Resignations

The Michigan Supreme Court
File Photo
/
WKAR
The Michigan Supreme Court building.

The Michigan Supreme Court has cleared the way for public school employees to quit a union at any time.

The court this week rejected an appeal from the Michigan Education Association, known as the MEA. It means a 2017 appeals court decision will stand.

The appeals court said restricting school union resignations to just one month a year conflicts with the Legislature's goal of giving employees more choices under Michigan's right-to-work law.

The law says workers can't be forced to support a union to keep a job. The MEA had argued that the resignation rule should be an internal union matter.

The cases involved schools in Saginaw, Standish, Grand Blanc and Battle Creek. The appeals began after a series of decisions by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission.

WKAR has closed the gap left by the loss of federal funding. Because of you, trusted journalism, inspiring stories, and classical music remain freely available to everyone in mid-Michigan.
Now the work continues — your monthly gift helps maintain this success and keeps public media free for all.