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Bob Haynes and Stephen Glossop are union men. Or at least, they were. Haynes is a former Detroit police officer and Glossop an ex-Teamster. Today, they take care of family members who need help.
Haynes and his wife Patricia look after two of their children, who have cerebral palsy. Melissa and Kevin are in their 30s, and though they can’t speak, eat or dress themselves, they are loved. Glossop, meanwhile, takes care of his mother, who has suffered a stroke and heart issues requiring constant care. For their efforts, Haynes and Glossop receive a small amount of money through a federal program meant to help provide care for the disabled or those with special needs in their own homes.
But to the SEIU, one of the largest unions in the country, all of this was just another way to make a buck. With the help of former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, it forced unionization on tens of thousands of caregivers, skimming $6 million per year from them.
With the scheme in place, Haynes in Macomb Township and Glossop in Isabella County saw part of their checks being diverted to a union they were unaware of. Many people wouldn’t have even noticed — or cared. But the Haynes and the Glossops did not sit quietly.
On behalf of those forced to pay into a union they didn’t support, the families contributed to a lawsuit, videos and op-eds, and served as spokespeople. Their efforts helped lead to legislation, an attorney general opinion, the defeat of a state ballot proposal and a U.S. Supreme Court decision. Today, tens of thousands of people have the freedom to choose whether to send money to a union — or not.
Melissa Haynes (above) and her brother, Kevin (below), suffer from cerebral palsy. Their parents are now free to provide them full-time care without the burden of illegal union dues.
