Posted on 02/27/2007 1:41:10 PM PST by truth49
OLYMPIA--Susan Wiggs, a Vancouver school teacher, has been attempting since August 2005 to divert her union dues to a charity that fights sex trafficking. Under state and federal law, teachers and other workers can opt out of union membership by claiming religious exemption, and can send their union dues to a charitable organization. Susan Wiggs' local union, however, has refused to send her dues to the charity of her choice. Wiggs' case against the Vancouver Education Association (VEA) was heard before the Public Employment Relations Commission on February 26, 2007, in Olympia. While the Vancouver Education Association agrees that she qualifies for religious objector status, it has refused to accommodate her charity selection. Wiggs would like her dues to go to Shared Hope International, which works "to prevent and eradicate sex trafficking and slavery through education and public awareness," according to its website.
VEA Executive Director Roy Maier refused, saying the organization is "not acceptable" to the VEA. Although Susan provided the union with documentation of Shared Hope’s non-profit, non-sectarian status, it has continued to block her from sending her union dues to Shared Hope.
Wiggs discovered guidelines the VEA had previously agreed to follow as a result of litigation with a different religious objector. The guidelines stated, "The goal is to respect the objector's choice of charities, so long as the designated recipient is lawful and charitable."
"It is unclear why the VEA has such a strong objection to an organization that works to rescue women and children from sex trafficking," said Michael Reitz, Labor Policy Director for the Evergreen Freedom Foundation. "As an organization of teachers, one would assume they would be particularly concerned with the trafficking and slavery of children."
Wiggs contacted the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, who obtained legal representation for her hearing before the Public Employment Relations Commission. Another hearing before the Public Employees Relations Commission on her case has been scheduled for March 21, 2007.
ping
VEA=WTF?
Ha! As I repeatedly say, over and over and over again, "If you love your children you will teach them yourself" and forget about public education and the Unions that run it.
I'm at a loss as to why anyone would subject their children to the same worthless education they suffered through. If you don't believe you can teach your children yourself because of your ignorance then pay for tutors to do your work for you and start petitioning your legislators to cut your taxes and give you back what they would otherwise spend to continue funding the Marxist indoctrination camps known better as public schools.
JMHO
Vancouver Education Association
Another article, same topic:
http://www.campusreportonline.net/main/articles.php?id=1037
"The union recently offered to send Susan’s dues to a local crisis pregnancy center…but still refuses to accommodate her choice of a charity."
I wonder if the "crisis pregnancy center" is along the lines of Planned Parenthood.
I know that. Do you know what "WTF" means?
World Teachers Federation??/sarc
They can't, some union bigwig has emptied the bank account and fled to South America.
Maybe not this time, but the next time a teacher has to sue that union to force them to follow the same law, they should sue them using the RICO statute.
There may be grounds to do so by demonstrating that the union has systematically and repeatedly tried to evade its responsibility under the law and unlawfully divert members money.
WA State Ping...JFK
You know your own situation. I am certain you do a fantastic job of homeschooling your children. And, you should be proud of yourself.
This is horrible and ubelievable.
From SHARED HOPE INTERNATIONAL Web Site
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shared Hope International?
Shared Hope International (SHI) is a 501c-3 non-profit organization existing to rescue and restore women and children in crisis. Former Congresswoman and founder, Linda Smith, has directed the organization since it started in 1998. SHI's domestic programs are run from its west coast office in Vancouver, Washington by nine full time staff, several professional volunteers and interns from our two internship programs. The international programs and public relations efforts are run from our east coast office in Washington D.C. We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and the Shared Hope International Advisory Board.
How does SHI rescue and restore women?
We have Homes of Hope in seven countries: India, Nepal, Netherlands, Fiji, South Africa, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. SHI identifies victims of trafficking through our outreach workers or through local law enforcement and or other social service providers. We then provide victims a safe place to heal, both physically and emotionally. At our Homes of Hope, women and children are able to receive medical treatment and counseling, gain economic freedom through job training in our Women's Investment Network (WIN), send their children to school, and continue their own education.
What does SHI do to ensure that women are not re-victimized?
To ensure that women who enter our programs are not re-victimized, there is no time limit to how long a woman or child can live with us. We understand people heal at different rates, and therefore we protect the women and children in our homes until they are ready to face the world as fully restored, economically independent individuals.
What is SHI doing to fight demand?
SHI acknowledges that without demand for victims, there would be no sex trafficking. We have expanded our Predator Project, revealing the perpetrators that create demand in the sex-trafficking trade. The Predator Project has been conducted in more than 14 countries identified as chief places of origin, transit or destination of global trafficking. In addition to research, SHI pursues the “three Ps”-prevention, prosecution and protection-to bring greater justice for victims and prosecution to predators.
How can I contribute to SHI?
We need your help to shatter the wall of silence keeping thousands of women and children around the world in captivity. Your voice can make a difference! Click here to find ways that you can financially support SHI's efforts to stop sex trafficking and provide a new life for women and children around the world.
How can I get involved with SHI?
We need help spreading the word about Shared Hope International and the fight against sex trafficking. You can tell your friends and family about us, and even send them a personalized message directing them to our website. Another way to get more involved with SHI is to Host Your Own Event. We also accept applications for volunteers at both our Vancouver, Washington and Washington DC offices. For students, we also have internship and fellowship programs.
How can I contact Shared Hope?
If you have questions about Share Hope International, please call us at 1-866-HER-LIFE or send an email to savelives@sharedhope.org. Most inquiries by email will be answered within two business days; however, during times where staff is traveling, it may take longer.
Linda Smith (politician)
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Linda SmithLinda Smith (born July 26, 1950 in La Junta, Colorado) is a member of the Republican Party who represented Washington's Third Congressional District from 1995 to 1999 in the United States House of Representatives.
Smith grew up in Vancouver, Washington. She became the manager of a number of indepedent tax offices in Southern Washington.
Smith began her political career in 1983 when she defeated a Democratic Party incumbent to win a seat in the Washington House of Representatives. In 1987, she moved up to the state senate and remained there until her supporters began a September 1994 write-in campaign to elect her to Washington's Third Congressional district. In spite of being dubbed the "Hazel Dell housewife", Smith began a 19-day long grassroots campaign which resulted in her winning the Congressional seat. She narrowly won re election in 1996.
Smith was known for her staunch anti-abortion stance and her maverick tendencies, such as opposing the Balanced Budget Amendment, supporting campaign finance reform, and most notably of all, being one of 9 House Republicans to vote against confirming House-Speaker Newt Gingrich in early 1997. In 1998 Smith defeated a well-financed primary opponent to face sitting US Senator Patty Murray, only the third Senate race between two women. Many observers expected the election to be close, but instead Murray won by a lopsided 58-42% margin.
Since Smith's retirement from Congress she has devoted all her energies to ending the practice of human trafficking. She lives in Vancouver, Washington with her husband, and has 6 children and 2 grandchildren.
There is your answer. The charity of her choice is a local one run by a local former Republican state and federal congresswoman.
She probably voted against some WEA proposal when she was in the state House and they are still trying to punish her for it.
Hopefully the VEA gets slapped, HARD, by the judge.
VEA: Board of Directors
President.................... Keith Drake
1st VP......................... Fern Tresvan
2nd VP......................... Brad Williams
3rd VP......................... Russ Pusc
4th VP......................... Jon Lauderbaugh
Treasurer.................... Don Weir
Secretary.................... Carol Sandison
Primary trustee............ Sue Ochs
Intermediate trustee..... Christine Munson
Middle school trustee.... Lori McKinley
High school trustee....... Courtney Hoover
Specialist trustee......... Lynn Harvey
WEA Board Director....... Fern Tresvan
WEA-PAC (ex officio)..... Kathy Lawrence
Bargaining (ex officio).... Phil Harding
Nearly 3/4 of all money funding the NEA comes from states where teachers are forced into a union. Bravo to this woman for standing up for her rights to not have to support an organization in which she does not believe and I hope the VEA gets a serious smackdown
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