Not only are these people unprincipled propagandists, they are self-confessed criminals. Let's see how many of the left-wing media report this.
Excuse me, but I thought this was indeed the case with ALL Union dues via a supreme court ruling that's aparently never, ever enforced.
(?)
"Repent NEA, or you will surely perish."
Since the NEA will never repent, let's help them perish. A wealthy NEA can buy whatever political clout they need to get their agendas passed. Help defund the NEA by informing teachers that they are entitled to a refund of the portion of their dues that the NEA and their state affiliates used for political activities. This refund can amount to several hundred dollars. See:
Reply # 14 in the thread Let's Help Nail the Teachers Unions -- It is National FReep Time
LANDMARK REPORTS NEA FLAUNTING FEDERAL LABOR REPORTING LAW
Here's some interesting information from the The Education Intelligence Agency (EIA) COMMUNIQUÉ (On the Web at http://www.eiaonline.com) -- May 13, 2002 issue:
"1) Are the Fat Years Over for NEA and AFT?
It used to be relatively easy for EIA to obtain accurate, up-to-date membership numbers for NEA and its state affiliates, but recently it has become a lot more difficult. Perhaps it is coincidental that the numbers are becoming harder and harder to find just as the news becomes less and less cheerful.
The tremors are small: lots of talk about needing inroads with Generation X teachers... financial problems here... possible layoffs there. In the past, membership problems were localized in the chronic, hard-to-organize states that had competing organizations. Today, the sounds are more widespread. NEA has grown every year since the mid-1980s, but for the first time the end of the boom may be in sight. The union experienced an increase of some 37,000 members this year -- about half of what it achieved in 2000-2001. More alarming if you're an NEA official is the fact that 20 state affiliates had a decrease in membership last year -- even as the number of potential members nationwide continues to grow at a fairly steady 2 percent annual clip.
EIA cannot yet identify which state affiliates are growing and which are not, though it seems safe to assume that the large states -- California, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, et al. -- continue to enjoy solid growth, while perennial weak sisters are now having serious problems. Activities to reverse the trend are already underway. The NEA Board of Directors granted $175,000 to the Mississippi Association of Educators for additional organizing. The North Carolina Association of Educators is laying the groundwork for an effort in support of collective bargaining in the state. North Carolina law currently bans collective bargaining by teachers.
Accurate AFT numbers are even harder to amass, because more of its members are not K-12 teachers. Nevertheless, the same tremors are coming from AFT. The AFT Executive Council's organizing committee met to discuss ways to get younger members more involved and active in the union. EIA estimates that about 70 percent of teachers are NEA and/or AFT members. Public school teaching may be the most highly unionized sector of the American workforce (the private sector is only 9 percent unionized). Is something about to give?"
We also need to inform teachers and education majors that there are alternative professional education associations that teachers can join for much less than what they are paying to the NEA:
Association of American Educators
25201 Paseo de Alicia, Suite 104
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Phone: 949-595-7979 or 1-800-704-7799
Fax: 949-595-7970
Email: info@aaeteachers.org
Website: www.aaeteachers.org
Please note that the AAE is not a union. It is a professional association. Annual dues are $125 per year for teachers (includes $2 Million liability insurance - one of the reasons teachers join the NEA or AFT is for liability insurance). Student, retired educator, and associate/support memberships are $25 per year.
Call the AAE and ask them to send you some of their brochures. Stuff them with Teacher317's "UNION DUES REFUND NOTICE" and hand them out to teachers and education majors. Take them to PTA/PTO meetings. Leave copies at school supply stores. Join the AAE as a support member.
Here are some links that will be of interest to teachers (and parents):
"Grading the NEA - What Every Teacher Needs to Know About The National Education Association: A Special Report" by Perry L. Glanzer, Ph.D. & Travis R. Pardo (http://www.family.org/gradingthenea/news/a0012243.html)
"Teacher Unions and Parent Involvement" (http://www.educationpolicy.org/EPIseries/parent-bklt.htm)
17 posted on 5/21/02 7:21 AM Pacific by EdReform
Please pass this information on.
Yer union dues dollars at work...MUD
Evergreen Freedom Foundation
A Non-Profit Public Policy Research Organization
P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507
(360) 956-3482, www.effwa.org
-------------------------------
July 2, 2002
MEMO
To: Media
From: Marsha Richards, Communications Director
It came to my attention today that the National Education Association is responding to yesterday's default judgment against them by claiming EFF filed false documents in a court of law. This shocking and serious claim is the union's excuse for missing the court deadline, and I wanted you to have the response of our general counsel for background information on this issue. Here is her statement:
--------------------------
"The documentation provided to the court does not include "false information." The representations made in the file were reviewed and verified by Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor before he signed the order of default. No superior court judge would sign an order for default if any of the documents presented were not in perfect order, appropriate to be relied upon by the court, and in accord with all the rules and regulations governing such procedures.
"NEA's attempt to blame their obvious neglect on EFF or the court is unprofessional and possibly borders on an actionable claim against them for libel, slander or some other claim. NEA attorneys should accept responsibility for their own mistakes and move forward to address the matter/issue at hand."
Jeanne A. Brown, General Counsel, EFF
--------------------------
The NEA did respond to our charges, albeit a bit late. The court deadline was June 23. On July 1, apparently unaware of the default judgment (an $800,000 fine and a permanent court injunction barring them from collecting agency fees in Washington state), union attorneys filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the entire case against them on a technicality. This despite the fact that staff of Washington's Public Disclosure Commission had found the union guilty of violating the law before EFF took the case.
To read the NEA's statement, visit:
http://www.nea.org/nr/nr020702b.html
To read EFF's press release on the judgment against the NEA, visit:
http://effwa.org/press_releases/2002_07_01.php
As always, feel free to call me anytime if you have questions or comments about this issue!
Regards,
Marsha Richards
Communications Director
Evergreen Freedom Foundation
P.O. Box 552
Olympia, WA 98507
(360) 956-3482