Teachers, Eat Your Own Dog Food

Don't get me wrong. I love teachers. Most work really hard. I think they should get paid a good salary and everyone should appreciate what they do. Teachers unions? Not so much.

Follow me on this one. According to its website, the California Teachers' Association "exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members." And boy, do they. CTA is extremely powerful. In fact, the union is the top financial contributor to California political campaigns* and regularly weighs in on political issues. For example, it  recently announced support for a ballot initiative which would remove certain tax breaks for business in California and another initiative that would make it more difficult for public corporations to make political contributions.  Apparently they don't want any competition from corporations because in 2004, CTA outspent even oil companies in political contributions. These contributions were not evenly divided among parties either. That same year, 98.6% of the National Education Association's contributions went to Democrats.**
 
The union has flexed its big biceps and kicked sand in the face of puny administrators and politicians for years, thus gaining outrageous concessions. Did you know that some local school libraries are shut due to budget cuts, yet union rules command no parent volunteers are allowed. Why? Well,  because that might take a job away from a paid teacher. When was the last time you heard of a teacher getting fired? Doesn't happen does it? My son's high school biology teachers tells her class she was abducted by aliens, but she's got a job for life. Don't even get me started on pensions.

And now the bill for all these concessions and benefits has come due, but since Sacramento has cut school funding, guess what school districts are doing? That's right - the ultimate irony- laying off teachers.  Of course there are the inevitable protests surrounding school board meetings:  parents with signs proclaiming   "Save our Teachers", children are crying, teachers are angry.  But I say to teachers, you are complicit in this drama for it is YOUR union which has led us to this point. And it was done in your name, with the power of your dues, and you have allowed it. 

But wait, I've got an idea. Since your union works for YOU, why not tell your union to renegotiate items like  pensions, firings, volunteers, and all the other concessions won on your behalf? Renegotiate these to sensible and reasonable levels. State education costs can be reduced, and YOU can keep your job.
 
Instead of picketing outside school board meetings, picket your own union. How about that? Because eating your own dog food doesn't taste very good, does it?


*www.uwsa.com                **Nat'l Institute on Money in State Politics