Thursday, September 12, 2013

So, given a choice... would teachers ditch their union?

I loath all public employee unions generally, but of particular interest to me are the scum running teacher's unions.

I still remember being on legislative staff back in the late 90's, watching teachers walking around, outside the capital, holding up their frequently misspelled protest signs... having ditched their students to come down to their legislators and lie about how much they were paid (Every teacher who showed up to see Rep. Boldt... every single one of them... lied about their pay) under this bizarre, false concept that it's all about the children... when in fact, it's all about their pay, benefits and work loads.

I believe it is illegal for public employees to strike, and particularly those who strike with credentials and or professional licenses should, as a result of their actions, permanently lose those licenses and or credentials and permanently be fired.

They won't be missed, and dozens would apply for their vacancy.

In Wisconsin and Michigan (much freer states than this one, unfortunately) teachers have the option... and they're voting with their feet:

Kenosha Teachers Vote Down Union, Empowered by Wisconsin Labor Reforms

A Victory for Wisconsin Taxpayers and Worker Freedom of Choice
September 12, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 12, 2013 – Today, teachers in Kenosha, Wis., voted to decertify their union, the Kenosha Education Association, by a margin of nearly two to one. Only 37 percent of the teachers opted to retain the union in an election made possible by the labor reforms enacted under Gov. Scott Walker (R). The result goes to show that when workers have a choice on whether to join a union instead of being forced into one by law, they often choose to vote down the union.
Competitive Enterprise Institute labor policy analyst Matt Patterson said regarding the vote in Kenosha:
“Gov. Walker’s bold and effective reforms have loosened the grip of unions on Wisconsin's public purse, to the benefit of taxpayers and to the detriment of Big Labor bosses. The news today proves what unions have long feared - that when workers are actually given a free and fair choice, they will often choose opt out of union membership altogether.
“The public at large—and an increasing number of union members—have become wise to the fact labor unions stifle innovation and burden governments and businesses with unsustainable costs and regulations.".

Michigan Teachers' Union Decertifies from State and National Union


    ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reflecting a growing
 trend of dissatisfaction with labor unions, teachers in Burt Township,
 Michigan, overwhelmingly voted to decertify their state and national union.
 The Burt Township Education Association (BTEA), representing the Burt
 Township School District in Grand Marais, Michigan, voted to become a
 "local-only" union, freeing the teachers of membership with both the
 Michigan Education Association (MEA) and the National Education Association
 (NEA).
     The recent vote, where 100 percent of the members agreed to call for an
 election to decertify the union, came after the members of BTEA determined
 that they were no longer happy with the representation and services they
 were receiving from MEA. Members of BTEA had been considering making the
 change since November 2006.
     "Teachers are looking forward to making decisions regarding their terms
 and conditions of employment without the outside interference and the
 excessive dues," said Brent Hammer, an elementary teacher.
     The vote immediately made official BTEA's departure from the MEA and
 NEA. Their contract expired on June 30, so the BTEA will be responsible for
 negotiating a new contract. Each member of the BTEA will save about $650
 per year by not paying state and national dues. They will be receiving
 professional services, such as liability insurance, from AAE.
Seems fairly clear to me.

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