E-Dues News

New process in Success with place for collecting E-Duessome tips 2012-13 past dues and strategies amounts We now have more than 87 percent of
From now on, the E-Dues system will only draw the current months dues from a member who owes past dues. This new process will give MEA the ability to have the system manage payment arrangements for members in arrears and give those members the details on any past due amounts. It will also allow them to make payment arrangements that will help them catch up on dues owed. The way we have operated has caused challenges with processing time and concerns with outside auditors, said Gretchen Dziadosz, MEA Executive Director. We know members were confused when they didnt understand why the amount of dues drawn on their account was a number different from what they were originally told. This new system will clarify things. Previously, a members past dues amount from 2012-13 was added to this years dues and payments were being spread out monthly. Since some members owed a significant amount of dues, this system was creating a financial hardship for those members. Dziadosz said, This new system allows us to work with members to find a solution and gives us much more flexibility. Members who have contacted you about setting up arrangements to pay their back dues should contact MEA membership or the MEA Help Center at 866-632-4357 or www.mea.org. Even if members have been told that last years dues would be added to their 2013-14 payments, MEA will work with them to meet their needs. members signed up for E-Dues because leaders, staff and E-Dues SNAPs are encouraging at least 1,000 members a week to sign on. Specific strategies have led to their success. Talking to members in small groups has made a difference. When positive smallgroup meetings are held in computer labs, it just takes one member to encourage others to sign up on the spot. Using local leaders, building reps and trusted colleagues helps lead to a successful E-Dues meeting. Members are more apt to sign on when they see that their dues dollars are at work in their local association. We suggest four phases to an effective E-Dues sign-up program. For the first step, members should receive an introductory email explaining the purpose of E-Dues and how simple the sign-up process is. In phase two, a follow-up reminder email encourages more members to join. The third email sets up the time and place for a personal contact with the member, perhaps at a building meeting. The last phase involves a one-on-one conversation with members still reluctant to sign up for E-Dues. This isnt a threatening conversation with talk about sending them to collections. This is a one-on-one conversation finding out whats preventing them from signing up and looking to address their concerns. We want members to sign up happily because they can clearly see the advantages for them to do so.

December 5, 2013

MEA provides plenty of resources to help. ESP Caucus members can help with oneon-one conversations with ESP members, explaining specifically how MEA supports ESP issues. And, of course, E-Dues SNAPs staff are available for building visits and one-onone meetings. Contact your UniServ Director if you need a SNAP in your area.

Arbitrations, court case will decide the fate of payroll dues deduction in some locals
While many districts have allowed
members to continue paying their dues through payroll deduction, other locals have taken legal steps to preserve the practice. Several locals in Macomb County are scheduled to hold a second day of hearing in arbitrations seeking to require school districts to honor their contractual agreement to payroll deduct dues. The arbitrator has ordered the school districts involved to continue deducting dues while the case is pending. The dues deduction issue is also the subject of an Ingham County Circuit Court case filed by the Lansing schools seeking a declaratory judgment whether the district is legally obligated to deduct dues. A Jan. 8 hearing is scheduled on our motion to send the case to arbitration. The Lansing Schools have agreed to continue deducting dues while the case is pending. Thanks to the persistence shown by leaders and staff in Flint, the district has decided to continue the payroll deduction of dues for MEA members.

Frequently Asked Questions I need to know. . .

Why does a member see a balance of $0 when they go to the website to check their balance?
This was a problem until just recently. Now, all invoices are being run on the first of the month so this should no longer be a problem.

In cases of married couples and officers whose dues are paid for by the association, they are having multiple draws from their account and the draws are being denied. What do they do?
This is a situation which requires more information and research. We will look into it.

What happens when a member wants to opt out of membership now?

MEAs Executive Director and General Counsel review each situation to determine whether or not to grant an optout request. The member is informed of the decision and a copy of the decision is sent to the field office. The field will send a copy of the letter is sent to the local president. The current blue membership form does not have a spot for fee payers. Will this be corrected on new membership forms? We are producing new membership forms, but they will not have a spot for fee payers because they are not members.

Why does the E-Dues status report show a different status for a member from week to week?
The most common reason is because two unsuccessful attempts have been made to get the dues. If that happens, the member is end-dated.

Are members who are currently paying dues, but have a payment plan for a previous year still members in good standing?
According to current governance documentsno. However, since the system is in transition, those members are in good standing if a payment plan is in place and they are making payments. Its important that local associations review their own governance documents and consider making changes to accommodate the member in good standing issue.

How often is the delinquency report updated and is it balanced or reconciled with the E-Dues sign-up status report?
As information is processed it is reflected in the report. The delinquency report is updated daily. There is no way to reconcile the delinquency report with the E-Dues sign-up status report.

How do we sign up fee payers? new hires who are fee payers?
Get their information and send it to MEA Membership so a Hudson Packet can be sent to them. This must happen in December! These are the same packets that have been used for years to process fee payers. That process has not changed. For new hires, get their name, address, start date, NEA dues code, wages and social security number. Send the information to Headquarters.

What happens to local dues if we find out a member should have been end-affiliated back in September and the local dues have already been sent to the local?
The local will have to refund the local dues amount to the member.

What should we do with letters from members requesting to leave?

They should be sent to the MEA Help Center at help@mea.org or mail them to the MEA Help Center, PO Box 2573, 1216 Kendale Blvd, East Lansing, MI 488262573. Local offices should no longer try to deal with them.

What happens if we have an agency shop provision, but the employer is not complying with it?
Contact Legal immediately. An assessment of the contract language needs to be done to determine the appropriate action.

E-Dues Honor Roll

These locals are newly added to the Honor Roll since they have 100 percent of their membership signed up for E-Dues. To get your local on the list, encourage ALL of your members to sign up to continue receiving all the benefits of MEA membership. Addison CT Addison E Alanson CFMOPT Alba E Algonac FOP Allen Park O Athens FOP Atlanta CFMOPT Atlanta E Bark River-Harris E Bath OT Bay Arenac ISD CPT Bear Lake E Bellaire CMOPT Benton Harbor O Benzie Co. Central O Berkley Adult Ed. E Berkley E Berkley O Bessemer City E Big Bay De Noc CFMOPT Big Bay De Noc E Bloomfield Hills Assts. P Boyne Falls E Bronson E Cadillac OP Calhoun Tech Center E Camden-Frontier E Camden-Frontier FP Caseville E Charlevoix-Emmet ISD T Clawson O Climax-Scotts E Clinton CM Coldwater OPT Coleman CFMOPT Coleman E Colon P Comstock F Dansville COPT Delta-Schoolcraft ISD CMOP Deckerville E Dickinson-Iron ISD O Durand CFMT East China OP East Jordan O Ellsworth E Engadine CFMOPT Ewen-Trout Creek CFMOPT Ewen-Trout Creek E Flushing O Forest Park E Fowler CFMOPT Fowler F Fowlerville F Glen Lake T Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD E Harbor Beach E Harper Creek F Harper Creek O Hart E Hart T Hartland CM Hillman E Houghton Lake CFMP Hudson E Inland Lakes CFMOPT Jefferson CM Jefferson P Johannesburg-Lewiston FMOPT Jonesville PT Kaleeva-Norman-Dickson E Kingsley MOP Lake Orion O Lakeview B.C.O. Lamphere O LAnse Creuse O Lapeer Education & Tech Teachers Assoc. Lenawee Voc-Tech E Mackinac Island E Macomb Academy E Manistee CM Manistee P Manistee ISD E Marion E Marion TP Marquette-Alger RESA E Martin E Menominee City E Mesick E Midland City CM Millington CFMOP Millington E Mio-Ausable E Mona Shores MT Monroe OP Monroe City O Monroe ISD E Morenci OP Munising CFMT Negaunee E New Lothrop E New Lothrop T Newaygo ISD E North Adams Jerome E Nottawa E Ontonagan E Otsego P Parchment T Pennfield T Pentwater E Petoskey CMO Pickford CFMOPT Pine River CFMOPT Port Hope E Powell Twp. E Rapid River CFGMOPT Rapid River E Reese MP Republic-Michigamme CFPT Richmond E Riverside Hagar #6 E River Valley E Romeo P Sandusky CFMOPT Saranac E Schoolcraft E Shiawassee RESD E Standish-Sterling E Superior Central CFMOPT Suttons Bay Daycare Tri-County E Vanderbilt E Vanderbilt P Watersmeet Twp. E West Bloomfield Maintenance West Iron County CFMOPT Wexford-Missaukee ISD COP