There’s trouble in paradise.
“Over the course of a career in labor relations that now spans three Brood X periodical cicada visits and 400-500 contract negotiations, the closest thing that I have seen to NEA’s behavior in this round of bargaining is when the Tea Party started taking over school boards and tried, sometimes successfully, to break the union.”
That’s from a worker at the union that represents the staff of the NEA, the National Education Association.
The NEA represents teachers and school workers around the country. It’s the biggest union in America and its affiliates include the Illinois Education Association, which has over 130,000 members in Illinois.
Last week the National Education Association Staff Organization (NEASO), the union that represents the staff workers at the NEA, voted overwhelmingly to strike against the NEA — 98% voted in favor. Their press release is here.
The NEA doesn’t practice what it preaches, say the workers. The NEA “is using the very same crony corporate playbook against its staff that NEA stands up against everyday across the nation, says one of the workers in the statements also on that site. “[T]heir behavior goes against every union value we hold dear,” says the president of the striking union.
The NEA is “trying to hike healthcare costs and slash retirement benefits that were promised to employees who dedicated their careers to the union’s mission,” she says. Whoa.
Another statement says this: “The state affiliates that I support would be appalled at the stance that NEA Management is taking.”
Are they? What say you, Illinois Education Association?
-Mark Glennon
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Does a Union REALLY need a reason to strike? Isn’t that just why they exist?
Why not simply raise the price of union dues? How about reducing executive compensation? You know, the things unions demand corporations do to pay their employees a fair wage.
Reap what you sow…
So why the cuts and healthcare increases? Maybe there is less revenue? Maybe the product is not what people want. Instead of striking how about making your product more valuable and maybe you gain more customers and grow your business. That’s what we do in this world of free enterprise…
They don’t believe in any of that “free market” stuff. That’s for cold-hearted, greedy, capitalist pigs.
These people are of a “higher order” and believe in something more like this:
“From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.”
They have needs, and you have the ability. Pay up!
These are communist leaches, not hard working Americans.
Define “work” so everyone can agree on what that means. Then, I’m wondering how many people do “hard work” enough to please you.
Thank you for putting out the truth!!