A recent state subcommittee proposal could cut $500,000 out of MSU’s appropriations because of the university’s involvement with union-building workshops.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education approved a budget on March 27 that included new language requiring public universities to “not participate in any instructional activity that encourages or discourages union organizing of employees.”
MSU spokesman Kent Cassella said since May 2013, MSU’s School of Human Resources and Labor Relations was contracted by North America’s Building Trades Union Department to administer and provide academic oversight of the Building Trades Academy.
The mission of the academy is to provide non-credit educational courses that offer useful and practical skill building for union staff and leadership, according to its website. Some of the courses cover topics such as dispute resolution, contract negotiations and labor law.
Cassella said the services are funded by fees paid from members of North America’s Building Trades Unions, not state appropriations or undergraduate tuition.
Any and all profits generated go to fund other degree programs within the school.
“It is important to note that the Building Trades Academy does not advocate unionization of any company or group of companies,” Cassella said in a statement. “Instead, it explores the business case of why the management of a company would voluntarily engage with a union.”
Subcommittee Chair Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton, an MSU alumna who initially proposed the new language, told the Lansing State Journal she thought the language was not “singling out unions,” but rather the program itself because it promoted union organization.
She could not be reached for comment on Monday or Tuesday because of a personal issue.
Although it was not his subcommittee that approved the language, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville, said he recently met with university officials to discuss the issue.
He said he agrees with the proposed wording and noted he hopes to see some changes in the workshops and what they are able to teach.
“I would hope (after the changes) they would not be promoting labor disputes,” Pscholka said.
Cassella said in response to the proposal, MSU is reviewing the language and is hoping to work with lawmakers further on the matter.
Since the proposal, registration for the Building Trades Academy has been halted.
MSU’s Assistant Vice President for State Affairs David Bertram, who generally oversees conflict between MSU and policymakers, could not be reached for comment on Monday or Tuesday.
