5/22/25 MCO Update

Members,

The lawsuit filed by the Michigan Senate against the Michigan House for not sending the hybrid pension bills is still moving through the Court of Appeals. Written briefs are due to the Court by July 3, and then the Court will decide whether they want to give a decision based on the written briefs or if they want to conduct oral arguments in addition.

On May 15, MCO held a rally at the State Capitol building to demand accountability from the former Speaker of the House Joe Tate and current Speaker Matt Hall, both of whom failed to send the hybrid pension bills to the Governor and are directly responsible for the bills being stalled in this legal dispute. Many media outlets attended the rally, interviewing MCO leaders and members. There were MCO chapter officials and members from all 25 prisons at the rally, along with leaders and members from several other unions that are being impacted by the stalled bills. Senators Brinks, Cherry, Shink, Hertel, Irwin, and Anthony came out to speak to our members and join us in demanding that the bills be sent on to the Governor.

The lack of integrity and accountability in this entire legislative process is sickening and is a prime example of why the average citizen has no faith in the political system. A couple of foul legislators deliberately obstruct the legislative process, and nothing happens to them. The lack of any public demand from Governor Whitmer to have the bills sent to her is also frustrating.

While we cannot speed up the Court of Appeals process, we can and will keep these bills and our dangerous prisons in the media and keep our reports on mandatory overtime, closed positions, and staff assaults on every single decision maker’s desk, including the Governor’s. At our Central Committee meeting last week, we notified the local MCO reps from each facility that we will be asking them to continue to track and report on these important topics. This must be a team effort by all of us, any member can send in reports on overtime, closed positions, and assaults by sending it via email to reports@mco-seiu.org anytime.

We also want to start publicizing the rampant K2 problem in all the prisons and blast that out to the media and legislators. Our goal is to find several members at each facility that are willing to help track and report all instances of convicts flipping out, falling out, assaulting staff, etc. so we can put a spotlight on the problem and not allow the Department to downplay it. If this is something you want to assist us with, please send the reports in to the email address above or send to your local reps.

B. Osborn

MCO President