DEARBORN, Mich. – An inter-union squabble has turned ugly in the Dearborn school district.

The American Federation of Teachers is suing the Dearborn Federation of School Employees over its alleged attempts to disaffiliate with the AFT, reports the Detroit News.

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DFSE represents 900 “nonacademic” school employees, including “custodians, secretaries and information technology staff,” the News reports.

DFSE leaders say they can’t afford to pay AFT dues without raising members’ fees, and need to consider becoming an independent union.

AFT officials are using legal means – some might say strong-arm tactics – to ensure that doesn’t happen.

The AFT’s legal effort against the local union centers on a vote the DFSE had in April.

AFT leaders say the vote was over whether or not the DFSE should sever ties with the national group, and accuse Dearborn leaders of ignoring proper union bylaws and employing voter intimidation tactics.

DFSE leaders say the April vote was only about the local union budget and had nothing to do with disaffiliation.

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It’s all very confusing.

What’s less confusing is what happened on July 22.

According to DFSE President Sharon Korhonen, four AFT officials entered her union office “like gangsters” and demanded “all our files, keys, passwords.”

“We told them no,” Korhonen told the News. “They refused to leave the office.”

It’s difficult to understand, from a reasonable perspective, why this situation has to be so ugly.

DFSE leaders have clearly indicated a desire to break ties with the AFT.  A vote should be scheduled, and if the majority of members concur, that should be that.

It’s easier to understand from the AFT’s perspective. Unions hate to lose members and the dues they pay, and will go to absurd lengths to prevent defections.

It’s too bad the big bullies on the block are allowed to hold unhappy members captive in such a manner.

The lawsuit has been assigned to a county court.