It takes a bit for data to be gathered and released. We went looking for information on the NEA (National Education Association) which is the largest teachers union in the United States. Here's a snapshot of how much money they get from dues as well as some ways they have spent it. It's informative. The article was originally published in Education Week. Orlando , Fla. - During the National Education Association’s annual four-day representative assembly, thousands of educators debated and voted on dozens of measures to chart the course of the largest teachers’ union for the next year. The 5,455 delegates in attendance also approved the union’s budget, which reflected a … [Read more...]
Did the Washington Education Association (WEA) attempt to buy the 2020 elections in Washington State?
The original of this article can be found at: ShiftWA.org The Washington Education Association (WEA) is seriously misnamed, as the state’s largest teachers union is neither primarily focused on education or free association. It would be more accurate to describe the WEA as a Washington taxpayer funded SuperPAC for electing Democrats. If you think that’s an exaggeration, consider that with annual dues revenue of over $40 million dollars alone, not including sweetheart deals in other government contracts, the WEA is a money-making machine for Democrat candidates. That’s how the WEA was able to spend millions of dollars, taken from each union member’s taxpayer-funded paycheck, to … [Read more...]
Are teachers unions too powerful in public schools?
At the risk of drawing the ire of teachers unions we need to ask if their influence is such that they drive too many choices. Let's start out making clear that great teachers are worth their weight in gold. Outstanding teachers should not only be paid like superstars they should be treated with respect and revered. Weak or mediocre or poor teachers should be assisted to move on to other endeavors. There in lies the issue...the poor and weak are protected. Every teacher is treated as equal and considered as having the same proficiency and effectiveness if they have X degree(s) and Y years of experience. That's simply impossible. Some people (in every profession and job) are better, faster, … [Read more...]
Teacher Union Dues Refunds? Tell teachers you know before Jan 8th 2018
So do you know a teacher who would like to get back $250-$350 of their union dues? Here's the info. Please share it fast....they have until Jan 8th 2018. The link to the online document is: http://www.optouttoday.com/wea How Educators Represented by Washington Education Association Can Reclaim Overcharges Supreme Court decisions have established that unions are not allowed to charge teachers for “the support of an ideological cause [they] may oppose as a condition of holding a job as a public school teacher” (Abood v. Detroit Board of Education 431 U.S. 209 (1977)). To accommodate this right, any teacher may resign from full union membership, and remain a nonunion member of the … [Read more...]
Washington State School Director Association – Pealing the Onion Part 1
What is the WSSDA? (link is attached to WSSDA on the left) Mission Statement: WSSDA provides leadership and advocacy, and empowers its members with knowledge and skills to govern with excellence. Real World: They are an advocacy group representing the school board directors in Washington State. Finances: Participating school board pay an annual fee to belong. In 2016 they raised: $1,742,874. There are 295 school districts so if everyone one participated that would equal ~$5,908 per district. As it turns out, based on an email exchange with: Christopher W. Carlile, CPA, CGFM Director of Finance and Operations Washington State School Directors’ Association 221 College St. NE; … [Read more...]