Archive for November 2013

Detroit News’ editorial says it all.   Teacher union officials cry foul over representing teachers who are nonmembers under an exclusive representation contract they themselves have foisted on these unwilling teachers.  Perhaps that’s why teachers are exercising their right to refrain. No one likes a freeloader. Count Michigan teachers among that number. As more public school teachers…

Once again, Larry Sand has his finger on the pulse of teacher union officials’ hypocritical agenda.    Corporations cannot force unwilling consumers to pay for services or goods they neither need nor want.  Teacher union officials can collar unwilling teachers to pay up for representation they don’t want or need, as well as political activity and noneducational issues.  Check out his article…

Michigan’s Right to Work Law is providing teachers with the opportunity they have been looking for, to resign their union membership at any time they wish.  Teacher union officials make it as difficult as possible for teachers to resign by accepting resignations during a short “window period,” usually when teachers are busy preparing to return to…

Joe Williams, Executive Director for Democrats for Education Reform, and Tim Daly, of education reform group, TNTP, insist teacher union officials shoulder part of the blame for the sad state of New York education.   Burdensome monopoly bargaining contracts and teacher union officials’ denial keep kids from the education they deserve.  Joe and Tim tell the story in the New York Daily…

An editorial in USA Today reviews the bad news about government employee union pension funds, which are seriously underfunded in many cities and states.  It is interesting to note that all of the states where bankruptcies have occurred were forced unionism states at the time of the bankruptcies.  Detroit’s bankruptcy proceedings began before Michigan became the 24th…

National Right to Work Foundation attorneys have won yet another right for Wisconsin teachers. Madison, WI (November 22, 2013) – Last night, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a ruling that allows teachers across the state to vote to determine whether union officials can continue to claim to represent those teachers in their respective workplaces. The ruling…

Trey Kovacs talks about a little-known but costly perk of government employee monopoly bargaining.  Union officials are very generous with taxpayer money when it comes to “official time” or “release” time.  It appears union officials in Louisville use the taxpayer-funded time to engage with union organizing groups, which can cost the taxpayer more money if they…

One of the fundamental reasons for establishing charter schools was to free teachers and administrators from the stifling regulation of a teacher union contract.  The Beginning with Children charter school in New York City has once again demonstrated this need for education, not monopoly bargaining. Jason Riley has the story in the Wall Street Journal The…

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker recounts the threats to his family’s safety after passage of Act 10, which severely limited the scope of monopoly bargaining for government employee unions, and gave teachers right to work freedom as well. Tal Kopan has the story in Politico. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker faced death threats and frightening encounters with protesters during…

Matt Brouillette of the Commonwealth Foundation, demonstrates how teacher union officials are hurting students by preventing school reform, and pressing more and more teachers into paying for agendas they do not believe in.  But, then, Pennsylvania allows union officials to collect dues from teachers in agency shop districts.  The story is in The Hill. Teachers’ union…