Posted on 05/24/2011 1:13:51 PM PDT by Kaslin
A few weeks ago I brought you the story of the California Federation of Teachers passing a resolution "reaffirming" support for convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. He was convicted of killing, execution-style, Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Despite numerous appeals and efforts by far leftists to spring him from prison, he's serving a life sentence in an open-and-shut case.
The Fraternal Order of Police issued a strongly-worded letter to American Federation of Teachers' President Randi Weingarten, parent union to the CFT.
The union's absurdly radical action is now producing its consequences.
I received an email from a CFT and AFT member resigning his union membership over the kerfuffle. He wrote in part:
"Having given the matter considerable thought, I have decided to resign from our labor union, an affiliate of the CFT and the AFT. I have already instructed [an administrative staff member] in Davenport to stop deducting dues from my paycheck. I feel some responsibility for briefly explaining the reasons for this difficult decision.
"I did not especially think this faculty needed to unionize when the idea for that came forward, but I did vote in favor of it, in support of the majority of faculty that did think this worthwhile. I did so with the understanding our union would stick to our immediate educational and terms of employment issues at [our school]. Indeed, our local has pretty much done a good job of that, except for having used tactics during the last round of labor negotiations that I rejected as long ago as 1968 as a college student. No, the end did not justify the means. I will leave it at that.
"More to the point, I cannot allow my dues to support either the CFT or the AFT. The CFT recently passed a resolution supporting convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. I have attached a strong objection written by the National Fraternal Order of Police. Frankly, I have no idea whether this person did or did not kill a cop; but I do know that I do not want one penny on my union dues spent on this cause. It has nothing to do with education. Moreover, the CFT also expends considerable resources on state-level political struggles that I do not support, and in fact could bankrupt the state I live in.
"As for the AFT, it is purely and simply an organ of the Democrat party. I have attached some charts below showing that at this time it contributes almost exclusively to the Democrat party. I do not approve of this use of my dues.
"Since I continue to support the mission of our Local insofar as it involves educational issues at [our school], I will contribute 10% of what I have been paying directly to our local, through the treasurer. As the former treasurer, I believe that amount will exceed the portion of my dues that remains in our union's bank account after regular monthly payments to the CFT and AFT."
Kudos to this teacher and former union treasurer for standing up for what he believes. He now realizes that he didn't leave the labor union, the labor union left him.
Many other teachers are beginning to recognize the in-your-face radicalization of the public sector unions, and they don’t like it either. I expect we’ll be hearing similar stories from brave union members who’ve had their fill and simply say, “Enough!”
Teachers, please continue telling them.
Whether Mumia is guilty or not, what does his case (in Pennsylvania and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals) have to do with California teachers? Insane.
I still occassionally see “Fry Mumia” bumper stickers driving around Pennsylvania. They always bring a smile to my face.
Hopefully, this will encourage more like-minded teachers to follow this example.
Your question should have been why did California teachers union pass a resolution to support a convicted cob killer.
*rme*
Unless your kids are in this guy’s class, you should know that the people who are educating your children embrace this shameful solidarity by default.
This is true for virtually any organized labor union. In all cases, organized labor bargains for the mediocre in the resource pool and I just never understood how every member can view themself as a mediocre performer. Unions create an environment that is totally devoid of any incentive to excel. Indeed, doing more than is required often is met with rebuke and, in some cases, worse. Simply stated, unions can only help those on the bottom half of the bell curve.
I didn’t miss anything, and we’re on the same side. I’m saying the CFT is “insane,” not the person challenging CFT’s insane resolution.
Perhaps it is you who is missing something.
Why in hell is the teachers union involved in this?
Excellent question
NO ONE SHOULD BE INVOLVED WITH THIS. Something that is usually omitted from this story is that he ADMITTED the killing when taken to the hospital after the murder. A hospital security guard heard the admission and it is in the official security report from the hospital. He has already had 2 trials and should have been put to death long ago.
Perhaps I misunderstood you
Read the article.
Unions are always involved in union thug business. If we were serious about the RICO Act, the unions would be in the dock right now because they are nothing but organized crime...but their capo is the Democratic Party.
Virtually all union money, regardless of the union to which you belong, goes into supporting Democrat positions. This includes the police unions, btw. On this one thing they may disagree, but I can assure you that they are 100% Dem on everything else.
These Leftitsts KNOW he is guilty, but don’t care....
I did. I’m saying that the CFT’s “insane,” not the brave person challenging the goons. How can you think otherwise when my opening sentence (did you read IT?) is essentially the same point he is making, namely that Mumia’s fate is none of the CFT’s business?
Think that'll get ya outta a speeding ticket? BTW, what are the chances of giving Mumia the hot squat? I'd be perfectly happy if they just shoot him in the head and throw him in a ditch.
Perhaps I misunderstood your post. That certainly happens, and people have misunderstood my posts from time to time. We post quickly and things often aren’t very clear. If so, my apologies.
However, what I understood is that you were simply complaining that this had nothing to do with California.
But you don’t seem to understand my point, which was that most of the things unions do have have no connection whatsoever with what is theoretically their job (protection of workers) but everything to do with supporting the programs of the Democrat Party.
I’ve never understood libtards’ obsession with Mumia - he admitted to the crime, didn’t he?
No, we are totally in agreement. I don’t know how my initial post was misunderstood, but I apologize in turn for any ambiguity.
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