Teachers Testify Against Nation's Largest Education Union

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 6/21/02 | Matt Pyeatt

[kattracks]

Washington (CNSNews.com) - Two school employees from Ohio, who claim the state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA) discriminated against their religious rights by forcing them to join the union, told their story before a House subcommittee Thursday.

The panel, chaired by Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), is considering the National Right to Work Act (H.R. 1109), which would eliminate the federal authorization of forced union dues.

Dennis Robey, a public school teacher in Dayton, Ohio, and Kathleen Klamut, a school psychologist in Ravenna City, Ohio, said the Ohio Education Association (OEA) was guilty of religious discrimination. They accused the union of repeatedly ignoring a federal law that allows teachers to direct their dues to a charity if they have religious objections to the way the union spends the dues.

"Every year, I have had to request the religious accommodation and then wait," Robey told the Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Education and Workforce Committee. "The whole time that I have waited, the union has had the use of my money to support causes that are contrary to my religion."

Robey and Klamut said the OEA and NEA use money from dues to support family planning, including the so-called right to reproductive freedom, "which are code words for abortion on demand," Klamut said.

"My faith will not permit me to support an organization that promotes abortion," she continued. "I, therefore, cannot support the union without violating my conscience. The union promotes other objectionable causes as well, but their position on abortion is the most offensive."

Klamut said an OEA representative informed her that not only would her religious claim be denied but that the union was also going "to take legal action against me because of my request for religious accommodation."

Klamut challenged the suit and the charges against her are now pending. The National Right To Work Legal Defense Foundation is defending Klamut.

"The NEA union's illegal scheme is intended to force teachers of faith to shut up and pay up," Stefan Gleason, vice president of the National Right To Work Legal Defense Foundation, said.

"The teachers' testimony exposed the harassment that many employees face every day when laboring under compulsory unionism," Mark Mix, executive vice president for the National Right To Work Committee, said. "The only way to help workers suffering under compulsory unionism is to make union membership 100 percent voluntary."

Robey said he enjoys his work as a teacher, but that it is becoming harder and harder for him to deal with the union each year. "I am proud to be a teacher, but I can no longer support or be associated with an organization that attacks the very values that arise from my faith," he said.

Calls made to the NEA and OEA by CNSNews.com, seeking reaction to this story, were not returned Thursday.

The House Education and Workforce Committee has yet to schedule a full committee hearing on the National Right To Work Act.

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[usconservative]

"The teachers' testimony exposed the harassment that many employees face every day when laboring under compulsory unionism," Mark Mix, executive vice president for the National Right To Work Committee, said. "The only way to help workers suffering under compulsory unionism is to make union membership 100 percent voluntary."

Any bets that once union membership is made "voluntary" 90% or more will OPT OUT of being in the union and KEEP their hard earned money?

That'll be as it should be. Union's time has come and gone. The NEA is nothing more than a typical mob-like run outfit just WAITING for a RICO lawsuit.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

NEA is evil and is NOT "for the children".

[buffyt]

You are RIGHT! They are Pro-Choice which means murdering unborn children, the most helpless of the children. They are NOT Pro CHILD!! This is just sick!

[BIGZ]

Really help the country, make all teachers return to the Social Security System.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

My parents raised me to become, and I spent my youthful education in pursuit of, a teaching degree. My father was president of the local school board. You can imagine my surprise when, in the midst of my college studies, my father came to me and said I needed to get out of education. He said it would no longer be a noble profession. He was on the front lines when the NEA formed and challenged the Board's authority to direct curriculum and policy. His stand for common sense against the NEA led to his subsequent illness and death. My family was harrassed 24 hours a day, threatened, and I was followed to and from classes -- just so I would know someone was watching. I might add that my father was not against unions. He was Vice President of the International Newspaper Guild and a Shop Steward for his 30 years in the business. I grew up taking my summer vacations with all the various employees of newspapers, television and radio stations and becoming well-versed in the media business. I watched as the element controlling the press today gradually took over what was once an un-biased public service. I have watched the noble profession of teaching follow the same path. I have been fortunate to see how it has all played out and how many Americans are now waking up to what I knew was going to happen. Life is a tremendous adventure -- not all of it is enjoyable. I hope the rest of you will carry on our fight now that you can see what I could when I left the world behind. I've sat out 30 years because one voice was not enough. Dad's death sickened me when I saw the waste of skin he died trying to save.

[1Old Pro]

considering the National Right to Work Act (H.R. 1109), which would eliminate the federal authorization of forced union dues.

We can only hope that this passes.

[kali_player]

I once heard Cal Thomas say that, "..children abuse is surrending your children to the NEA for eight hours". My prayers are for these two courageous teachers.

[Don Myers]

bttt

[abclily]

One of the main reasons teachers join the union is for the liability insurance - protection against being sued by parents. In one state I was allowed to buy liability insurance for teaching as a rider on my homeowners policy. When I attempted to do the same in another state, I was told by the insurance agent that my homeowners company had an unwritten agreement with the teachers' union not to sell liability to teachers in that state.

[moyden]

Silence! Questions are verboten!

NEA on the march.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

If the NEA hadn't gutted the school boards across the nation, perhaps you wouldn't need liability insurance. Now, no one recognizes the authority of a school board. School districts carry liability insurance, there is no need to carry an additional policy, if your school district is being administered by a compentent board. Your district should insure you. To have a district guided by representatives of your community who share the values of the community and the goals the community sets for its children is a tremendous back-stop for individual teachers. The board is there to back the teacher and assist that individual with what he or she needs to do the job the district has hired him or her to do. The fact that you didn't have that backing is directly attributable to the NEA. How convenient. Set up the circumstances and provide the solution. Follow the money and you'll see how it works.

[abclily]

Exactly. Hasn't that been the liberal way for some years now - set up the circumstances and supply the solution?

[MJemison]

True, the unions are definitely NOT about the children. After serving 5 years on the local shool board, I am totally disgusted with the union's tactics during the school year and especially during staff negotiations. Their goals? Fewer teaching hours, more pay, better medical and dental coverage, less or no accountability. Appalling. And none of these negoations are to be made public (to the taxpayers!) until an agreement with the district is reached, and even then the terms are never made totally public in a clear manner. The NEA is a dinosaur. An ugly one, to boot.

[Theodore R.]

Many Americans do not know the acronym "NEA." If you tell an average American that "NEA" means "National Education Assn.," he probably thinks that is a "good" group that is working to "educate" our children. He is so naive that he lacks an understanding of this activist, liberal, often taxpayer-subsidized organization. If NEA is "for the children," this aveage American will support the group.