Posted on 07/13/2012 5:26:52 AM PDT by MichCapCon
Michigan public school teachers who are facing pay freezes and pay cuts might be surprised to know that the dues they pay that go to their national unions helped give the national presidents raises of 19 percent and 22 percent in 2011.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten had her base salary increase from $342,552 in 2010 to $407,323 in 2011 while National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel's base salary jumped from $298,387 in 2010 to $362,644. The salary information was taken from the unions most recent LM-2 reports.
Van Roekel's total compensation went from $397,721 to $460,060 from 2010 to 2011, while Weingarten’s total compensation jumped from $428,284 in 2010 to $493,859 in 2011.
Those raises came as both unions lost membership.
Spokespeople for both national teachers unions didn't respond to emails seeking comments.
"I find the amounts of money they are getting astronomical and largely unwarranted," said Susan Westlake, a former secretary who worked for the Fraser Public Schools before retiring in 1985. "But they don't have anything to do with education any longer. That's what bothers me. How can they fight for someone's rights who are in the classroom educating when they don't have any relationship to that environment anymore? They are working literally as politicians. If their constituency wants to pay them that type of money, I think they are crazy."
John Ellsworth, a teacher in the Grand Ledge Public Schools, said the need for high-paid national advocates was necessary.
"Public education is vital for the preservation and growth of our nation and its economy," Ellsworth said in an email. "Leaders of the national teachers' union try to rally people behind this truth. I wish we had people serving in government who recognized the importance of public education, but instead children and teachers need their own advocates since politicians abandon public education so readily.
"Leaders of national teachers unions taking raises around 20 percent when they are already well into six-figures surprises me," Ellsworth said. "Maybe public education teachers are doing better nationally than in Michigan, but as a Michigan teacher I can only dream of such a big raise. It frustrates me some that there was a big increase, but it frustrates me more that people elect anti-education folks to state legislatures and Congress, making it necessary for there to be a well-paid advocate for public education, teachers, and children."
Just obscene. I have taught Latin, English, and European History, including many classes at the AP and IB level, in private and religious schools for 20 years, and although I did manage to put together a small pension, I have never made a salary higher than $45,000 and have always had to have a second job. Currently, I work at such a school which is across the street from the local public school department of education headquarters. The fancy cars that come in and out of their parking lot would make your eyes roll. Again, just obscene.
When I was in high school, our principal worked as a farmhand during the summer with us teenagers.
This Ellsworth fool sounds like a typical numbnuts teacher who has sold his soul to the union and thinks he can’t get along without their help, even while all the time they are robbing his paycheck. (My FiL was the same way only he was a fireman.) He deserves what he’s getting from them.
In the age of Obama, it is executives first. What he says is window dressing as far as I am concerned.
All these unionistas keep electing these creeps to head their unions...why don’t they un-elect them? Maybe they fear losing their outrageous pay and benefits. Wimps. They get what they deserve.
This Ellsworth guy lived down the street from me. My son’s never had him for class THANK GOD! He is a big lib and ran for office a couple of times. All he cares about is him self.
It’s for the children!
Pray for America
Don't ever join a union, any union. Leave any union you may be a part of now. Whatever it costs you now, in the long run it will be more than worth it.
Meanwhile, 19%? That's an insult to every single person in the organization. Guess some pigs are more equal than others, than their union brethren.
MEAexposed.com: Electing your Employer - Michigan teachers’ union’s plan to control school boards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eat-EbbEqIM
MEA building full capacity locals
http://www.mea.org/bfcl_files/index.html
What’s the problem? OBozo gets paid bunches and deserves NOTHING! Goes around, comes around...with time!
It should be noted that “John Ellsworth”, quoted in the article, is a former union president.
Wisconsin ping to national union salaries
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
Although this story is about Michigan, the salaries of the national union officers should be of interest to Wisconsin. Everybody’s dues pay into those.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.