Ten questions that should be on FCAT test [by Carl Hiassen, Miami Herald, re: UTD's Pat Tornillo]

The Miami Herald ^ | Sun, May. 18, 2003 | CARL HIAASEN

[summer]

Probably because I don't live in Florida and don't have easy access to Florida papers.

Again, no offense to you, but this column literally says it all. Living in FL and having access to FL papers are factors that nothing to do with this column's content. Corruption, or alleged corruption, is universally understood on this planet, and has been for quite some time.

[summer]

Probably because I don't live in Florida and don't have easy access to Florida papers.

Again, no offense to you, but this column literally says it all. Living in FL and having access to FL papers are factors that have nothing to do with this column's content. Corruption, or alleged corruption, is universally understood on this planet, and has been for quite some time.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Ironic. If you don't join the Unions, you are referred to as a scab. Yet I view the Unions as scabs on the body of America's workforce.

[IYAAYAS]

Unfortunately he does represent teachers. Union members choose their own leaders, so teachers are responsible for this. He is wasting your money, not mine. Very poor judgment, I'm sure he'll be represented by the finest counsel union money can buy.

p.s. Teachers ARE responsible for educating children.





I don't mean for this to be an attack on you, some teachers are great.

[summer]

I do think in the past unions did some good things, but I am hardpressed to make a case for them now -- especially when the union leaders are people like Pat Tornillo, spending wads and wads of hard earned money from teachers, just for his own pleasure.

[ampat]

No wonder people are screaming that we need to pour more money into education. Why isn't that guy in jail?

[summer]

Re your post #24 - Thanks for sharing your thoughts. At the present time I am not a union member. Your comments do not offend me. :)

[summer]

Yeah, we'll see if he ever gets to jail. Although, here in FL, he just might.

[ampat]

Sounds like a good topic for O'Reilly.

[summer]

Yes, it does. I'd like to see O'Reilly interview this guy. And, just think: If FL had voted for McBride in Nov 2002, we might have had this guy -- Tornillo -- with a governor on his side. Yikes!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Hey! How did this guy get a job with a Teacher's Union? He obviously is more qualified to run my Teamster's union.

Anybody going to Vegas soon please check on the Casino that used to be the parking lot that used to be a Casino that used to be my pension fund.

[LiteKeeper]

bump

[Rome2000]

Tornillo is just one of many Democrat crooks operating out of the DCPS building.

There are literally hundreds more.

[NonValueAdded]

Minor correction, dfu: Someone needs to make restitution or and go to jail.

Something tells me this guy can't be the only one with his hands in the cookie jar. How could they vote him in as union prez? Oh, wait a minute, South Florida. Duh!

[ReagansShinyHair]

Oo, I can't stand being forced into the teacher's union. I just know they are partying on my nickel. Or $800. Most of the teachers I know hate it, too. They don't do anything their supposed to do for us when they negotiate contracts, and they don't represent the political interests of us, either. Most of the teachers at my school are conservative, and our Union (of course) is liberal.

Here's why people join unions.

In my teacher's union, you can refuse to join. If you refuse, you still pay. You can send your money to one of three charities they choose. Ok so far. BUT - Here's the really bad part. You have to pay all the money up front. This means that instead of paying dues out of my paycheck each month, I was told that I would have to pay $2000(!!!!) all up front. At the beginning of the school year. In cash. Before I get my first paycheck of the year. Since when do I have $2000 to pay the union up front?

The Union rep also lied to me about the option to refuse to let any of your dues be put toward political contributions. When I asked to opt out, they told me it was $3 a month. I didn't bother, even though I should have on principle. I found out this month that it's really almost half of your dues, and if you choose the option they give you the money back at the end of the year. Apparantly, there are some conservative teachers at my school who do this each year. They are furious with the union, too, mostly because we got what amounts to a $5000 pay cut this year. BTW, administration and the district offices didn't. The only teachers who I know truly love the union are the incompetent ones.

In all fairness, we did have an issue where one of our classrooms was totally unusable due to filth and infestation, and our union did come through and negotiate for the district to clean it up post haste. That was a small, small thing compared to the bad things that unions do. I had no idea the unions were all so terrible until the past year. I plan to be much more involved in mine from now on.

[summer]

In my teacher's union, you can refuse to join. If you refuse, you still pay.

Not in FL. BTW, thanks for your interesting post. :)