LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The state’s largest teachers’ union saw a slight growth in its membership in 2024 but is still far below membership levels since Michigan became a right-to-work state in 2013.

The Michigan Education Association (MEA) had 79,612 active members who were members of the Education Association or the Education Support Professionals and 118,592 total members including 38,694 retired members in 2024, according to a recent report released by the union.

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That was an increase from 2023 when the MEA reported having 117,119 total members.

However, MEA’s active membership is down 30% since the right-to-work law became effective in 2013. Before right-to-work became law, paying dues to a union was a requirement of employment.

In 2024, the Democratic-controlled state Legislature and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer repealed the right-to-work law. However, public-sector workers were not impacted by that because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Janus ruling in 2018.

The MEA’s total membership in 2013 was 147,659 with 81,571 Education Association members and 31,576 Education Support Professionals.