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The administration of the governmental organization negotiates the interest of the public. They sometimes do a great job and sometimes they don’t. My union’s

by syops 5y ago

The administration of the governmental organization negotiates the interest of the public. They sometimes do a great job and sometimes they don’t. My union’s contract must be approved by the state legislature. One party is actively opposed to unions and that fact alone means that negotiators from the state Department of Education must be tough. We certainly don’t get what we ask for simply because we ask for it. For years our pay has lagged behind pay increases of comparably educated private sector workers while required paperwork and busywork has increased.

angelzen 5y ago
On the flip side, the union bankrolls the politicians of the other party, with a huge conflict of interest. Your answer has no room for the kids education, but plenty of room for pay and benefits of the union members. But that is old school quibble, the OP article is concerned about the expansion of UTLA purview into naked political arena: > But under Myart-Cruz’s stewardship, which began when she assumed office in the summer of 2020, that purview has been expanded to include a breathtaking range of far-flung progressive issues: racial justice, Medicare for all, the millionaire tax, financial support for undocumented families, rental and eviction relief—over the last 15 months, UTLA has championed them all.
- syops 5y ago
  I don’t understand your response. A union’s primary purpose is for advocating for the rights, working conditions, and pay for it’s members. That teachers’ unions often times advocate for making things better for their students in the form of supporting school lunch programs, universal healthcare, increased mental health resources for kids, etc. is because members generally care about those we teach. In the end it doesn’t matter what you or I think. The members of the union have a right to advocate for what they want to advocate for. They have free speech rights too.
  - angelzen 5y ago
    It is a difficult subject to tackle, here's a second attempt: If there was school choice, sure, go advocate for whatever political cause you want. To the extent that the public is forced to pay taxes for public schools, the public has a right to be concerned when the teacher union veers into territory that is beyond a reasonable purview. The union priorities are telling: * High: Negotiate pay and benefits for the union. Reasonable in principle, but less reasonable when the union bankrolls the politicians that signoff the paychecks. * High: Naked political campaigns outside the professional scope of teaching. This is crass: union members joined the union for the pay and benefits negotiator role. Now some are forced to (tacitly) support political causes against their conscience. This is further crass because sooner or later it leaks into the classroom, and teachers should strive for a political neutral stance, not for classroom political indoctrination. * Low: Figure out how to improve kids educational attainment, which is the #1 reason people hire teachers. Teach Jonny how to read. For politics, join a political organization, don't drag the professional union into politics.
    - syops 5y ago
      I suppose you don’t think constitutionally protected free speech rights apply to unions. Are you at least consistent and want to ban lobbying efforts by corporations? The leaders of corporations can join a political organization. Are you consistent and decry the fact that stockholders have to accept that the company they hold stock in can advocate for things they don’t like? Union members have a right to have the portion of their dues spent on political advocacy refunded to them. Stockholders have no such similar rights. Have you been in the classroom as a teacher? I’ve been teaching for over 20 years. I’m glad my Union advocates for social justice because I’m tired of students using student loans as a means of welfare. I’m tired of sick students not being able to afford healthcare and remain sick. I’m tired of dealing with students who have to work full time jobs to support themselves and can’t devote enough time for school. I’m tired of dealing with hunger, transportation problems, etc. But it doesn’t matter what you or I think. Unions have free speech rights and can advocate for things you don’t like. Get organized and fight for your position. There are lots of checks on unions and what unions spend on politics is nothing compared to the monied interests opposed to us.

by syops 5y ago

angelzen 5y ago

On the flip side, the union bankrolls the politicians of the other party, with a huge conflict of interest. Your answer has no room for the kids education, but plenty of room for pay and benefits of the union members. But that is old school quibble, the OP article is concerned about the expansion of UTLA purview into naked political arena: > But under Myart-Cruz’s stewardship, which began when she assumed office in the summer of 2020, that purview has been expanded to include a breathtaking range of far-flung progressive issues: racial justice, Medicare for all, the millionaire tax, financial support for undocumented families, rental and eviction relief—over the last 15 months, UTLA has championed them all.

syops 5y ago
I don’t understand your response. A union’s primary purpose is for advocating for the rights, working conditions, and pay for it’s members. That teachers’ unions often times advocate for making things better for their students in the form of supporting school lunch programs, universal healthcare, increased mental health resources for kids, etc. is because members generally care about those we teach. In the end it doesn’t matter what you or I think. The members of the union have a right to advocate for what they want to advocate for. They have free speech rights too.
- angelzen 5y ago
  It is a difficult subject to tackle, here's a second attempt: If there was school choice, sure, go advocate for whatever political cause you want. To the extent that the public is forced to pay taxes for public schools, the public has a right to be concerned when the teacher union veers into territory that is beyond a reasonable purview. The union priorities are telling: * High: Negotiate pay and benefits for the union. Reasonable in principle, but less reasonable when the union bankrolls the politicians that signoff the paychecks. * High: Naked political campaigns outside the professional scope of teaching. This is crass: union members joined the union for the pay and benefits negotiator role. Now some are forced to (tacitly) support political causes against their conscience. This is further crass because sooner or later it leaks into the classroom, and teachers should strive for a political neutral stance, not for classroom political indoctrination. * Low: Figure out how to improve kids educational attainment, which is the #1 reason people hire teachers. Teach Jonny how to read. For politics, join a political organization, don't drag the professional union into politics.
  - syops 5y ago
    I suppose you don’t think constitutionally protected free speech rights apply to unions. Are you at least consistent and want to ban lobbying efforts by corporations? The leaders of corporations can join a political organization. Are you consistent and decry the fact that stockholders have to accept that the company they hold stock in can advocate for things they don’t like? Union members have a right to have the portion of their dues spent on political advocacy refunded to them. Stockholders have no such similar rights. Have you been in the classroom as a teacher? I’ve been teaching for over 20 years. I’m glad my Union advocates for social justice because I’m tired of students using student loans as a means of welfare. I’m tired of sick students not being able to afford healthcare and remain sick. I’m tired of dealing with students who have to work full time jobs to support themselves and can’t devote enough time for school. I’m tired of dealing with hunger, transportation problems, etc. But it doesn’t matter what you or I think. Unions have free speech rights and can advocate for things you don’t like. Get organized and fight for your position. There are lots of checks on unions and what unions spend on politics is nothing compared to the monied interests opposed to us.