EAST LANSING, Mich. – While Big Labor publicly preaches the need for socialism, behind the scenes, many of them are enjoying the fruits of capitalism.

The Michigan Education Association is a case in point. The powerful teachers union is the creator of Michigan Education Special Services Association (MESSA), a third-party insurance administrator that essentially serves as a middle-man between school districts and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

MESSA has been a cash cow for the union because many local, MEA-affiliated teacher unions demand MESSA coverage during contract talks with their school district.

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MESSA then turns around and pays the union for “marketing services” among other things.

It’s a sweetheart deal that can only be possible through the collective bargaining process.

In the MEA’s latest LM-2 report filed with the federal Department of Labor, the union reports raking in $4.5 million on the deal, slightly better than $4.4 million it made on the arrangement last year.

Ironically, the rank-and-file union members have little say in whether they want MESSA insurance or not. During contract talks, their union-provided negotiators typically keep MESSA in the teachers’ contract, often at the expense of raises or other benefits.

With the amount of money the union is making on the deal, it’s obvious to see why.

Some wonder why MESSA is even necessary in the first place. It’s an insurance administrator. The company does not have actual liabilities – those rest with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

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The union claims MESSA exists to “elevate education to the professional status it deserves.”

The reality is MESSA is little more than a layer of bureaucracy the union can exploit for millions.

Just something to keep in mind the next time you hear the MEA or another labor union talk about the need to protect “workers” from their “greedy” employers.