BY JAKE NEHER
Michigan Public Radio Network
The top Democrat in the state House said Republican lawmakers are trying to bully schools and universities into rejecting new union contracts.
State House Minority Leader Tim Greimel is asking Republican leaders in Lansing to denounce what he calls "scare tactics."
Any union contracts signed before the end of this month will not be subject to the state's new right-to-work law. Some Republican lawmakers say schools that negotiate long-term contracts before that time should not be eligible for state performance grant money.
Greimel said schools should not be punished for doing something that's completely legal.
"Just like in a number of other areas, until laws come into effect, people don't have to comply with those laws either." Greimel said.
Republicans say long-term contracts would be bad for taxpayers and students.
Professors at Ferris State University have filed a complaint against the school for rejecting a contract it had initially supported. They say the university likely feared losing state funding.
Copyright 2013, MPRN