Free Republic

While the teachers they represent have seen very small pay increases or even pay freezes over the past three years, high level executives at the Michigan Education Association union received large raises. The average increase in the salaries paid to the top four union officials was 18.6 percent over three years. At the same time, the MEA's liabilities increased by nearly $100 million, or 50 percent in one year. Vice President Nancy Strachan received a 25 percent salary increase between 2012 and 2015 ($119,520 to $149,433). Secretary-Treasurer Rick Trainor was also up 25 percent during the period ($121,476 to $151,675)....

A retirement system created by the state’s largest teachers union for its own employees has become a huge financial drain on its finances. Skyrocketing pension and retiree health benefits were the largest contributors to a $100 million increase in liabilities on the books of the Michigan Education Association in 2015, up almost 50 percent from the previous year. The MEA’s overall liabilities jumped to $304.1 million in 2015, up from $206.2 million in 2014 and $181.5 million in 2013. The increases were disclosed in annual financial documents the union must file with the U.S. Department of Labor. The MEA’s cost...

While the teachers they represent have seen very small pay increases or even pay freezes over the past three years, high level executives at the Michigan Education Association union received large raises. The average increase in the salaries paid to the top four union officials was 18.6 percent over three years. At the same time, the MEA's liabilities increased by nearly $100 million, or 50 percent in one year.

While the teachers they represent have seen very small pay increases or even pay freezes over the past three years, high level executives at the Michigan Education Association union received large raises. The average increase in the salaries paid to the top four union officials was 18.6 percent over three years. At the same time, the MEA's liabilities increased by nearly $100 million, or 50 percent in one year.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has instructed the Foreign Ministry to reassess its involvement with European Union (EU) institutions regarding the political process with the Palestinians. Until the assessment is completed, Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the suspension of all political contact with EU institutions and representatives on the issue.

Just before recessing for a two-week Thanksgiving break, the Michigan Senate passed a pair of bills to prohibit two particular schemes that require taxpayers to pay for work done on behalf of teacher and government employee unions. The legislation, Senate bills 279 and 280, has been dubbed by some “the Steve Cook bills.” Senate Bill 279 would outlaw pension spiking of the type that allowed Michigan Education Association President Steve Cook to use a $201,613 union salary to pad his taxpayer-funded pension. Earlier this year, Michigan Capitol Confidential broke the story about how Cook took advantage of a special deal...

A man beaten by two Alameda County sheriff’s deputies in a San Francisco alley was scheduled for surgery Wednesday to repair extensive — and perhaps permanently disabling — injuries to his arms and hands.The operation at San Francisco General would be taking place amid indications that federal law enforcement authorities may join the investigation into the incident.Two deputies, still unidentified, were captured on motion-activated security camera video around 2 a.m. last Thursday chasing Stanislav Petrov down a Mission District side street — the end of a high-speed chase that originated in San Leandro.The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office says the deputies chased...

Another Michigan union has used its newsletter to post the names of employees who have chosen to exercise their right to not have to financially support a union as a condition of employment. Workers say the union is bullying them and creating a hostile work environment. This time, it’s UAW Local 600 that’s publishing the names of employees who chose to opt out of belonging and paying dues to the union. Bob Brezovsky, president of the UAW’s Tool & Die Unit, wrote in the union's online publication: “The employees listed below have chosen not to pay union dues any more...

Look, you can be as close with any consenting adult as you like. I sure don't care what they're doing behind closed doors, either- why let things you cannot possibly control bother you? But 'marriage' exists for the purpose of creating families and providing a stable environment for the raising of children- and deep down, everybody knows it... Government needs to step-away from the moral side of this topic -which is really none of it's concern- and issue ANY and all couples 'civil partnership' arrangements, as is done in -of all places- France.  People can pick whatever church they like...

From correctional, child support and security officers to program techs – about 900 members are trying to leave the Service Employees Union, but voter packets were inadvertently mailed out early two days early. (snip) We want to bring back the old way of representation which would just be for members wages and benefits, and get out of the Obama-care fight, the immigration fight, the Black Lives matter fight, the 15 fight – all these fights that are not associated with public sector employees.” – Eulalio Gomez, Fresno Sheriffs Correction Officer.

A recent caller to Rush Limbaugh’s radio show highlights the size and scope of Donald Trump’s supportive base: CALLER: I just wanted to let you know, I wanted to talk about the Trumpster. I think he’s tapped into some of the Democratic voters because I’m a Teamster back here, and I was working with 30 Teamsters last night. We put shows in conventions and load trucks up, and these guys, now, mind you, only three of the 30 of us are Republicans, one’s a Libertarian, and the rest voted for Obama. And these guys love the Trumpster, they love him....

The indictment of former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett closes a chapter in yet another sad tale of greedy, cheating city officials. Her lawyer says she has agreed to plead guilty when she appears in court, and I hope the judge throws the book at her. But ethical misconduct is only a part of BBB's legacy. The ex-CEO—along with the rest of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's crack team at the Board of Education—has left us with a whopper of a problem that could hit full force as soon as next month. I'm referring to the nearly $500 million hole in...

The 2015 American Federation of Teachers annual report shows a left-wing political machine humming on all cylinders — with teachers buying the gas. For the fiscal year ending June 30, the union reported $37.6 million in political activity and lobbying expenditures, a $12.7 million increase from the previous year. Even more political spending was tucked away elsewhere in AFT’s annual U.S. Department of Labor filing, reported as “Contributions, Gifts and Grants,” “General Overhead” or “Representational Activities.” AFT paid union president Randi Weingarten, one of the nation’s most prominent “progressive” activists, a total of $497,118. The union reported only 2 percent...

Leaked Audio: Hillary Clinton Calls at Private Fundraiser for Infrastructure Bank to Resemble Clinton Global Initiative Hillary Clinton told donors at a private fundraiser in New York last Thursday that she plans as president to create a “national infrastructure bank” modeled on the Clinton Global Initiative, according to a recording of her remarks obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. This was the first time that Clinton, who has long supported the formation of a government-controlled bank to invest in national infrastructure projects, cited the Clinton Global Initiative—the flagship arm of her family’s controversial foundation—as an investment model for her proposed...

The public school district in Taylor, Michigan is in big trouble financially. It is shedding students and has run significant deficits in recent years due to spending more than it takes in, requiring special oversight from the state. But the district still finds the money to pay four union stewards to do union work on the taxpayer’s dime. More than $108,000 is given up so that the union can enjoy this privilege. The practice is called “release time,” and school districts across the state do it. The arrangement allows union officials, typically the president of the union local, to be...

The two authors [Dylan Bennett of the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha and University of Washington Ph.D. candidate Hannah Walker] construct their argument calling Walker a racist by observing that the city of Milwaukee is home to the largest concentration of black people in Milwaukee. As in many metropolitan areas, many of the suburbs surrounding Milwaukee “such as Brookfield and Waukesha” are chockablock with white residents. Thus, the white scholars contend, any effort to reduce the scope of government is racist even if — especially if — proponents of limited government never use any overtly racist language. “Governor Walker engages a strong,...

Governor Scott Walker made his name reforming Wisconsin’s labor laws. Now he proposes to do the same at the federal level. In a speech yesterday, Walker detailed solid labor-policy reforms that conservatives should embrace. His reforms boil down to eliminating union power over the government and focusing private-sector labor law on employee choice. Walker sees creating government unions as a policy mistake that unnecessarily increases government spending. Neutering Wisconsin’s government unions enabled him to eliminate a $3.6 billion budget deficit and cut taxes by $2 billion. Federal unions are not as powerful as state and local government unions — they...

Yes, yes, Scott Walker doesn’t have enough pizazz or excitement for some Republicans. Let’s just toss out this bold agenda while we’re at it. >>>Walker will propose eliminating the National Labor Relations Board, which he will say has “become a one-sided proxy for the big union bosses — often at the expense of taxpayers and workers.” He will also propose eliminating “big-government federal unions,” saying the time members of those unions spend on union efforts takes away from the time they spend doing their jobs serving the American people. Walker’s plan would also make Right to Work nationwide, giving employees...

..... On Monday, the Wisconsin governor released his plan to strangle unions, titled “My Plan to Give Power to the People, Not the Union Bosses.”....Under President Obama, the NLRB has been more aggressive for labor than the business-friendly boards of previous administrations. In August, for example, it made it easier for unions to negotiate on behalf of workers at companies that rely on contractors and franchisees. If fast-food workers at McDonald’s or software testers at Microsoft want to unionize, employers have to come to the table to negotiate. For Walker, this decision is evidence that the NLRB is now “a...

[Hillary] used the social media platform to accuse Walker of employing “bullying” tactics when dealing with unions. “Unions help keep working families strong. Scott Walker’s attacks on unions and workers’ rights aren’t leadership—they’re bullying,” Clinton wrote. The tweet was signed with her initial, indicating she personally authored the tweet. A few hours later, Walker responded — and hit back hard. @HillaryClinton Actually, we’re protecting the American worker from being forced to support candidates like you,” [SW]