Posts tagged teachers
Florida teachers union loses 20,000 members after government stops collecting dues
December 4, 2024 // In its annual Form LM-2 filed in November with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), the FEA disclosed having 111,133 employed, dues-paying members as of August 31, 2024, down from the 131,510 “active members” the union reported a year earlier. The precipitous decline far exceeds typical annual fluctuations in the union’s membership numbers and comes in the wake of Florida policymakers’ adoption of a package of government union reforms in 2023 championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis with the support of the Freedom Foundation and other conservative groups.
MASSACHUSETTS: Tensions are rising as North Shore teachers remain on strike
November 22, 2024 // New court orders came down Thursday from an Essex County Superior Judge on the fines the teachers’ unions have faced over the last week, which increase by $10,000 a day. The judge suspended the fines for Friday to allow negotiations to continue without that burden, but the judge says if no deal is reached by the end of the weekend, the fines are back in place Monday. Plus, an expedited fact-finding mediation through the state will begin.
Teachers Union Staff Faced An Unexpected Labor Adversary—The Union That Employs Them
November 21, 2024 // A lockout is a tactic that bosses and corporations use to suppress their employees, it’s not something a union should be doing to another union. As the largest union in the country, we need to be modeling the practices of joint labor management collaboration. This culture that we create in our organization is so important. Every single district is watching what’s happening because these are some of the tactics that they will use. That is one of my biggest fears. NEA has normalized this practice of locking out staff, and it has gone on for four weeks.
OREGON: Elected officials join Albany teachers on strike, demand resolution
November 19, 2024 // The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Julie Fahey, was among the officials to join the rally Monday afternoon in hopes of putting more pressure on the district to settle the contract. Earlier Monday morning, teachers hit the picket lines as the GAPS teacher's strike enters its second week following the stalemate between the union and the district to resolve the ongoing sticking points.
News Fines pile up as school is canceled again due to teacher strike in 3 Massachusetts communities
November 15, 2024 // "Everyone's getting dysregulated by the lack of routine, you have working parents," said Marceau. But she said even before the strike, Julian was having trouble getting in-classroom support because of understaffing. "Our in-classroom IEP requirements are not being met because we do not have paras in the classroom."
Chicago Teachers Union spent $1.74M trying to take over Chicago school board
November 14, 2024 // The Chicago Teachers Union took over City Hall when it bankrolled former union operative Brandon Johnson’s way into the mayor’s office in 2023. Then the union went after the first elected members of the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education. It endorsed 10 candidates and funneled $1.74 million into their races, according to records with the Illinois State Board of Elections. CTU only got four of them elected, and one of those faced no opposition.
Teachers in Beverly and Gloucester vote to go on strike
November 11, 2024 // "Teachers are essential employees who our children depend on for learning and safety during the school day. An illegal labor action will cause direct harm to students by forcing many to stay home without a parent or guardian able to care for them, removing access to mental health service options, and limiting students' abilities to secure warm meals," said Kathleen Clancy, on behalf of the Gloucester School Committee. The teachers union in Beverly said it has been without a contract for 67 days, and educators are taking a stand as the schools continue to be underfunded.
Teachers Unions’ Motivations for School Board Endorsements Clash with Voter Expectations
November 8, 2024 // The study, titled The Politics of Teachers’ Union Endorsements, found that school board candidates endorsed by the union have won 70% of races over the past twenty years. According to the study, voters believe teachers unions make endorsements based on improving academic outcomes. In reality, however, the unions tend to make endorsements based on self-interest. The study suggests that voters might be misinterpreting these endorsements, thinking they reflect a candidate’s commitment to education quality when they are, in fact, more reflective of union self-interest. By allowing voters to be misled with regard to their intentions, unions have been able to secure races for two decades worth of school board candidates.
Chicago Teachers Union’s actions affect all Illinoisans
October 31, 2024 // What exactly does Davis Gates think is “emergency” status for all of Illinois? CTU’s more than $10 billion in demands include 9% wage increases for Chicago teachers, a housing program for Chicago teachers, a 100% electric bus fleet and solar panels for Chicago school buildings – to name a few. CPS has projected just 52 of CTU’s demands would create a $2.9 billion deficit for the district next fiscal year and a $4 billion hole by 2029. Illinoisans outside Chicago may not think that’s their problem to solve.
Commentary- Teachers: Your Union Dues are Funding the Election
October 31, 2024 // Teachers in swing states such as Pennsylvania should be particularly aware of where unions are spending their dues. During the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), representing over 175,000 Pennsylvania teachers, spent $5.02 million on politics. This spending went primarily to progressive causes. PSEA is also an affiliate of the NEA, which means a portion of Pennsylvania teachers dues are also spent on politics by the national union.