ESCANABA – Gov. Rick Snyder was met by protestors Wednesday night as he attended a Republican fundraiser in Escanaba. About 20 union members carried signs and walked in front of Hereford and Hops.

Frank Mongene, uniServe director with the Michigan Education Association in Escanaba, says they object to Snyder’s decision to appeal a court ruling to return $550 million taken from school employee paychecks between 2010 and 2012 for retiree health care.

“We just want to let him know we are dissatisfied,” Mongene said. “He needs to take care of the people in the state and he needs to follow the constitution. He actually took and oath when he took office to uphold the constitution of the United States and the state of Michigan. By making these appeals that have been found unconstitutional in lower courts, he’s violating the constitution.”

Public school employees had 3 percent of their pay deducted for about two years under a 2010 law. That law was declared unconstitutional. Snyder signed a new one in 2012 that has been upheld by the Michigan Supreme Court.

The state appeals court in June ordered the return of $550 million taken in the first two years. Snyder is expected to appeal that ruling.

State Attorney General Bill Schuette said he will not provide Snyder counsel for an appeal.