Let's Help Nail the Teachers Unions -- It is National FReep Time

dfu | 1-23-01 | dfu

[doug from upland]

READ HOW EFF IS NAILING THE UNION IN WASHINGTON

The Evergreen Freedom Foundation just reported that the NEA is giving some dues money back to 4,000 teachers in the state of Washington.

The good news comes on the heels of the million dollars in fines and assessement charged to the Washington Education Association for taking member dues and using them for RAT political purposes without permission.

We need to replicate the success of EFF across the country.

I have checked a district near me. Some of the schools have all the teachers listed as well as e-mail to each of the teachers.

Is there any downside to sending each of them a simple e-mail:

Attention teacher. You may not know that your union is using dues money for political purposes, in many cases without permission. If that is happening to your dues, you have the right to demand some of your money back. You have a right to demand an accounting. (*** give link to the story or EFF website ***)

Any other ideas?

[anniegetyourgun]

Best wishes replicating EFF in other states. It's tough enough in this state (WA) to maintain that wonderful organization financially. And despite all their gains, the "fines" the WEA ends up paying are little more than a mild headache to them. These days I suspect the unions in our state are building "EFF fines" into their budgets!

[sauropod]

You gotta remember, Doug. These are (as a class) a bunch of brainwashed Oprah Book Club Members.

My soon-to-be-ex-wife is one.

Nuff said? 'Pod

[doug from upland]

Let's roll!

[TN Republican]

I think that every bulletin board that has to have the minimum wage BS on it should also have posted Pres. Bush's EO regarding employees' Beck rights. Every right an employee could possibly have is usually posted over the water cooler or in the break room, so why not their Beck rights?

[doug from upland]

I helped a teacher friend get back almost $300 of about a $700 annual dues account.

[Captainpaintball]

How? I have a couple of friends that are teachers. They are young, dumb, and unaware about the union they belong to.

[doug from upland]

Go to the union rep and demand to know how much of the dues paid is going to collective bargaining and how much is going to political activity. Demand to fill out a paper requesting a refund of that being used on political activity. The union thugs will scream but if the teacher is persistent, the money will be refunded.

[Marsha at EFF]

Really enjoying all the comments about EFF's work and how teachers in other states can be informed of their rights -- thanks!

[doug from upland]

See that, you are up at 10:39 at night and are FReeping. It is guaranteed to become an addiction.

[sauropod]

I support that.

[sauropod]

Most schools are pretty much a "closed shop." That has to be changed before real reform takes place.

[summer]

I think if your message is polite, you are on the right track. And, believe it or not, teachers do NOT all vote for the Dem candidates constantly endorsed by the union.

[EdReform]

"Go to the union rep and demand to know how much of the dues paid is going to collective bargaining and how much is going to political activity. Demand to fill out a paper requesting a refund of that being used on political activity. The union thugs will scream but if the teacher is persistent, the money will be refunded."

Freeper Teacher317 has had some success with this - see:

Reply # 39 in the thread Home-Schooling Under Siege,

Reply # 28 in the thread TEACHERS UNION THUGS HAVE TO GIVE BACK MONEY [Free Republic] and

Reply # 19 in the thread Legal Costs Skyrocketing for Defiant Teachers Union

And there is some very useful information in the thread you posted last February:

Reply # 44 in the thread TEACHERS UNION THUGS HAVE TO GIVE BACK MONEY [Free Republic]

Additional information:

Reply # 16 in the thread Don't Profile The Kids Or The Educational Levels Of Their Parents [Free Republic]

*Education News bump...

[1Old Pro]

You gotta remember, Doug. These are (as a class) a bunch of brainwashed Oprah Book Club Members.

They all read the union monthly newsletter. It tells them that they need to support Democrats if they want higher salaries and more benefits and less kids to teach.

Conversely, they are told that the GOP wants competition TO HELP KIDS LEARN BETTER, but teachers will have to actually work....this scares government employees.

[Kryptonite]

No downside IMO. Bookmarked for later action.

[doug from upland]

Thanks for the links. We have to run with this.

[Elle Bee]

Landmark spent five years and over $1 million gathering and analyzing an enormous body of evidence about the NEA’s operations.

Click Logo to go to:

.

also see: National Legal & Policy Center

.

[doug from upland]

Thanks for the link. I have already contacted them regarding this. If there is a budget available from a conservative source, I will take time from my business and launch a campaign across the nation to let teachers know of their rights.

Ideas, anyone?

[Liberator]

The fascist NEA has done more to teach -- nay, indoctrinate the flower of America with anti-Americanism, revisionist history, socialism, and moral relativism than Lenin, Abbie Hoffman, Jesse Jackson, and Peter Jennings ever could.

It may sound melodramatic, but if school vouchers and some kind of educational competition is not enacted by our cowardly representatives, than the Republic is surely eventually doomed.

[harpo11]

According to Federal Election Records found on OpenSecrets.org for the election year 2000 the NEA donated $2,691,678 of which 92% of the recipients were Democrats.

Moreover, if CFR (campaign finance reform) were passed only unions would be able to advertise for their candidates and/or political ideologies in the 60 day period prior to an election. Non-unions would be excluded.

[doug from upland]

They do more than donate directly. They conduct a number of activities that directly benefit the RATS.

Marsha, can you share some of their activities?

[EdReform]

"How? I have a couple of friends that are teachers. They are young, dumb, and unaware about the union they belong to."

Have them check out the following (and pass the info along to parents and to students who are considering or are already education majors):

Association of American Educators
25201 Paseo de Alicia, Suite 104
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Phone: 949-595-7979 or 1-800-704-7799
Fax: 949-595-7970
Email: info@aaeteachers.org
Website: www.aaeteachers.org

Please note that the AAE is not a union. It is a professional association. Annual dues are $125 per year for teachers (includes $2 Million liability insurance - one of the reasons teachers join the NEA or AFT is for liability insurance). Student, retired educator, and associate/support memberships are $25 per year.

Here are some links that will be of interest to teachers (and parents):

"Grading the NEA - What Every Teacher Needs to Know About The National Education Association: A Special Report" by Perry L. Glanzer, Ph.D. & Travis R. Pardo (http://www.family.org/gradingthenea/news/a0012243.html)

"The Impact of Unionism on the Quality of Public Education" by David Denholm (http://www.psrf.org/doc/art2.html)

"Teacher Unions and Parent Involvement" (http://www.educationpolicy.org/EPIseries/parent-bklt.htm)

[EdReform]

Parent-Teacher stores are another place to leave copies of this information. And PTA/PTO meetings...

[EdReform]

Ping

[EdReform]

Ping...

(Please help get this info out to teachers and parents)

[Eska]

I really don't think most of the teachers out there are all that excited about the NEA's political platform, but it's the only organization teachers have to protect them from lawsuits, ect. Break up a fight in the classroom and you can be sued nowadays. School boards are not going to award teachers salary increases on merit or for any other reason; nature of the game. So most teachers feel they do need a union to protect them and they will never gain any form of compensation from the fairness of their school district.

In my school district, teachers are required to have a 5th year degree plus about 20 extra credits inorder to start at 31,000. Close to 6 years of school. Low pay and compensation is a major issue to teachers also. they have kids to raise too. This is the reason why so many leave education for the private sector after a couple of years.

Think what you may, but Washington's plan is to federalize education and cut the local control out of the picture. Then you watch what happens. The feds will dictate what your child believes, mind control. Even Bush wants to be the education president, throwing money in every direction.

I sure wish more conservatives could spend some time in the shoes of a teacher inorder to see what is really happening within education in America

[EdReform]

"...but it's the only organization teachers have to protect them from lawsuits, ect. Break up a fight in the classroom and you can be sued nowadays..."

Would the AAE's liability policy provide teachers with adequate protection?

"Think what you may, but Washington's plan is to federalize education and cut the local control out of the picture."

It seems that the NEA wants to cut local control, too:

Unions 'TURN' Tables on School Boards

[Angelique]

As always, you provide a wealth of information, as well as direction. It sounds like, with some leadership, we can make make a difference.

[Eska]

So right, the NEA is also blinded by the $$$$$$ they see coming once teachers become federal employees. That's their complete interest in the matter.

Seriously, most of the teachers I know are not on the left end of the spectrum like most people on FR seem to believe. The nature of local property taxes vs teacher benefits seems to force them into supporting the dems. So much controversy over so many issues.

Here's an example: My wife has 2 masters. We moved to Alaska from back east. The state certification office which was under repub control questioned her 4 year degree certification but was completely happy with both her masters certifications. NCATE standards. Wife has been teaching over 15 years. Anyway, she called the NEA for legal assistance and they filled her in on the vendetta the repubs had against teachers; stick them every chance they had. NEA lawyers also called the state certification office on the carpet and boy did heads roll. Wife was certified the nx day and also received an apology. Bottom line is even though my wife is registered repub, she now feels the NEA is there to help her. I think most teachers have had similiar experiences and will not go against the union for those reasons.

Seeing the feds expand their control in all areas of education still grates me to no end anyway. Not good for our children's future.

[EdReform]

Ping

[unamused]

Ummm.... W increased the education budget by 5%, he likes the teachers unions...

[Salvation]

How did I miss this thread?

[timestax]

Hey hey, bump against union tyrants!!

[EdReform]

Bump!

[let freedom sing]

These are a bunch of brainwashed Oprah Book Club Readers..... I've met teachers who NEVER read a book.

[timestax]

bttt

[UCANSEE2]

Thought you would be interested in this thread

[summer]

Any ideas?

Doug, I think you should also try to find out:

(1) Which teachers in the union may also be registered GOP voters -- and, there will be some; I'm sure. Also, which teachers are registered independent or no party affiliation.

(2) Contact those union teachers, and sugget they write letters to the editor of the NEA Online, a magazine, in order to inform other teachers of their rights. The NEA says they will publish letters from union members.

Last year the NEA pubished a letter from a teacher (and union member) who took the NEA to task for failing to interview Rod Paige and support GW in his new position as POTUS. I was surprised to see that letter, as it was very blunt in its criticism of the NEA's poor treatment of GW and his new administration.

PS UCANSEE2, thanks for the flag! :)

[EdReform]

BTTT

[doug from upland]

Bumping again. May Landmark Legal eviscerate the b*stards.

[EdReform]

LANDMARK REPORTS NEA FLAUNTING FEDERAL LABOR REPORTING LAW

The NEA's Paper Chase

[Wphile]

The WEA, Washington Education Association (WA State, that is), just voted to increase their dues $36 a year. That brings the annual dues for each teacher to a little over $700! Looks to me like most of the teachers are perfectly willing to pay those dues!

In our school district, the teachers wanted - as a negotiated item - the board to endorse a closed shop. We turned it down every time but it doesn't really matter. Every teacher signs up with the union and when one is attacked they come together like bees to honey.

[EdReform]

$700! Can you believe this?!

[Teacher317]

It's worse than that. When I posted Bush's Executive Order (since the union failed to... and the EO does require it be posted), I had 4 teachers (about 5%) come to ME (again, not the union reps) and ask about it. Of those 4 teachers, 3 said they weren't interested in getting THEIR ILLEGALLY USED MONEY back, since they didn't want to weaken the state or local unions. I pointed out that they could just ask the national for that portion of the dues (about $100 each for 2000 only), but they balked. The fourth asked for and received his check. (Oddly enough, neither of us chose to continue working in that school system. We weren't mistreated or anything, but I will say that pushing the union to do obey the law made me a bit concerned.)

When people aren't interested in getting THEIR OWN, ILLEGALLY USED MONEY returned to them, there's something wrong.

[Wphile]

No kidding. I don't know a single teacher who is, at all, concerned about his/her union dues. They just pay them.

Yes, $700 bucks!!

[anniegetyourgun]

Unbelievable.

[medved]

The National Right To Work Foundation just might be the best way to spend money if you simply want to effect maximal damage to the NEA and the Democrat party.

[EdReform]

BTTT

[tcostell]

Here is a little mention of something going on about 11 miles from Hillary Clinton's house. Arguably, groud zero for educational mis-management, and no doubt the last place where we will see reform.

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