[dennisw]

I dislike taxes, but I HATE TEACHERS UNIONS.

I despise teachers unions and all public sector unions. They are scumball parasites who manipulate the hack politicians and the political process to get their way. To get outrageous wage and benefit packages while poor mouthing themselves. Many years ago it was strictly verboten for public employees to go on strike and agitate for their self interests. My, have times changed

I respect private sector unions since they know if they push too far the company goes broke and they're unemployed. And they don't thieve from the taxpayer as do 75% of public sector employees.

[ladylib]

Here is an interesting story about a highly rated high school in NYC and how the teachers union almost stopped an unlicensed but highly qualified math teacher from teaching there:

http://www.educationnext.org/20033/20.html

The article is fairly long, but worth reading.

[ninenot]

True story:

A Wisconsin company was purchased by its employees through an ESOP. The employees were (mostly) represented by a union--but the management was not, as is typical.

The represented employees wanted a raise and the Board, which included a union steward, turned it down--the whole industry was in a recession, etc., etc.

The union struck and put the Company out of business.