New Web Site Gives Teachers Voice to “Stop the Teacher Tax”

California Republican Party e-mail | 7 April 2005 | Karen Hanretty

[CounterCounterCulture]

New Web Site Gives Teachers Voice to “Stop the Teacher Tax”

Teachers union to vote on $180 mandatory increase in dues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karen Hanretty

April 7, 2005

The California Republican Party (CRP) today launched a new web site, www.StopTheTeacherTax.com, to draw attention to a new “teacher tax” that one of California’s most powerful unions plans to impose on teachers and educators statewide.

California’s largest teachers union will meet Friday, April 8, 2005 in Los Angeles to vote on increasing the union dues of classroom teachers by $180 over the next three years.

The union intends to raise as much $54 million to fight Governor Schwarzenegger’s education reform agenda, which would reward good teachers and stop bad teachers from being guaranteed a job for life. Currently, the 335,000 members of the California teachers union are already paying $500 a year in mandatory dues.

“We should be promoting excellence in schools by focusing on the fundamentals of education, encouraging more parental involvement, guaranteeing a safe learning environment, reducing the bureaucracy and demanding accountability from students, teachers and administrators. But the unions are more interested in protecting their own interests rather than rewarding good teachers and ensuring quality education for our children,” said CRP Chairman Duf Sundheim.

Union bosses claim that the $180 teacher tax isn’t mandatory, which simply isn’t true. Educators who want the opportunity to vote on their employment contract and receive real union representation must join the teachers union. The union rules dictate that if teachers disagree with the union’s politics, they must sacrifice liability coverage and legal protection. In other words, educators are forced to pay political dues to protect their basic employee rights.

“I encourage every educator who wants to protect his/her hard earned money from being used for political purposes to go to www.StopTheTeacherTax.com today and say ‘No’ to the teacher tax. Tell the unions to stop playing politics with our public schools and start focusing on helping children graduate with a high school diploma, which will put them on the path to success,” said Sundheim.

Delegates of the California Teachers Association State Council on Education are scheduled to hold their vote to increase member dues on April 8, 2005 at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel.

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[CounterCounterCulture]

[LauraleeBraswell]

The GOP has gotten smart. Very smart.

[John Lenin]

Free California !

[Brad’s Gramma]

EXCELLENT!!!!!!

[stylin19a]

union are already paying $500 a year in mandatory dues.

It's been awhile since I've been in a union, but..... That's 10 bucks a week. Is it possible dues are that low ?

[Balding_Eagle]

www.StopTheTeacherTax.com

Very clever.

[Yo-Yo]

Any dues that are not used to directly support contract negotiations or enforcement are deemed voluntary by the Federal Government and must be refunded to the member upon request.

If a union gave $50 million to pacs and candidates, or used it to purchase politial advertising, that amount is deemed voluntary and subject to rebate.

If you're a teacher, in any state, or any union member for that matter, request a refund of the political portion of your dues! (Just don't expect to get the best treatment if you ever need help with a grievence.)

[rockthecasbah]

The CTA (the big bad union) is one of the main reasons why California's public schools rank almost dead last in the U.S. in test scores. With their accomplices in the CA democrat controlled legislature, they have taken one of the best school systems in the nation to one of the worst in less than two generations. The problem isn't funding. It is apathy, tenure, lack of accountability and liberalism that have brought our public schools to the bottom.

[Wolverine]

Davis-Bacon Act