Unions strike out at Michigan Court of Appeals on teacher dues

DETROIT (AP) -- A federal appeals court says it won't take a second look at a Michigan law that bars school districts from helping unions collect dues from employees. In May, a three-judge panel at the court overturned an injunction that had suspended the law. The full court recently signaled that it doesn't want to hear another appeal by unions. The law was approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2012. It stops payroll deduction of union dues paid by teachers and other school employees and forces them to write a check. Detroit federal Judge Denise Page Hood stepped in and halted the law a year ago, saying lawmakers were trying to starve unions. State attorneys now are waiting for Hood to erase that injunction, following orders from the appeals court. Published: Fri, Jul 5, 2013