Opinion ID: 1302283
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Subsections 2a and 6(1)

Text: Finally, plaintiffs argue that the conflicting definitions of strike in subsections 2a [15] and 6(1) fail to provide adequate notice of what conduct violates the act and that, therefore, these subsections violate due process. However, we conclude that the definition of the term strike is consistent as between these two subsections. Subsection 2a(1) fines public school employees for engaging in strikes. It provides: If a public school employer alleges that there is a strike by 1 or more public school employees in violation of section 2, the public school employer shall notify the commission of the full or partial days a public school employee was engaged in the alleged strike. [Emphasis added.] Subsection 6(1) restates the definition of strike from subsection 1(1)(i) that applies to the remainder of the act: Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, a public employee who, by concerted action with others and without the lawful approval of his or her superior, willfully absents himself or herself from his or her position, or abstains in whole or in part from the full, faithful and proper performance of his or her duties for the purpose of inducing, influencing or coercing a change in employment conditions, compensation, or the rights, privileges, or obligations of employment, or a public employee employed by a public school employer who engages in an action described in this subsection for the purpose of protesting or responding to an act alleged or determined to be an unfair labor practice committed by the public school employer, shall be considered to be on strike. [M.C.L. § 423.206(1); M.S.A. § 17.455(6)(1).] Plaintiffs argue that the subsections are inconsistent because subsection 2a(1) only requires a strike by one employee, but subsection 6(1) requires concerted action with others. Although subsection 6(1) requires concerted action, the concerted action can be an action other than abstaining from work, such as providing financial support. Under subsection 6(1), a strike also obtains if a group of employees aids one employee's effort to engage in a work stoppage: the one employee abstaining from work is on strike; the other employees are not on strike, but are engaging in concerted action with the striking employee. Therefore, the reference to a strike by 1 or more public school employees in subsection 2a(1) does not conflict with the definition of strike in subsection 6(1) because subsection 6(1) recognizes strikes in which only one employee abstains from work. Accordingly, one definition does not render the other unconstitutionally vague.