Teacher's Unions

[Friend of Mara]

Ok, I'm just pointing out why the employer, the state might hate the union.

Noted.

Apparently not.
CA Parents Seek to Abolish the California Teachers' Association - California Globe

The safety and well being of teachers is at the forefront of the lockdown measures that they voted for. Seems totally in line with what the function of the union should do. I don't see any conflict here. Many unions of non-teacher variety have voted to keep at home work during the pandemic.

The fight against the charter schools is not a dedicated function of the union but one in which I stand in solidarity with. Though they don't take direct action against it using union powers. So a side issue at best but great talking point.

 

[Nakosis]

Noted.



The safety and well being of teachers is at the forefront of the lockdown measures that they voted for. Seems totally in line with what the function of the union should do. I don't see any conflict here. Many unions of non-teacher variety have voted to keep at home work during the pandemic.

The fight against the charter schools is not a dedicated function of the union but one in which I stand in solidarity with. Though they don't take direct action against it using union powers. So a side issue at best but great talking point.

Ok, just saying some folks would want to choose otherwise.
Hate is often the result of fear. Fear of others having or the perception of having some power over you.
Emotions usually rule over logic and facts.

 

[anna.]

Can someone please explain to me why so many people hate teacher's unions? Is it because it is a union? Is it because they are teachers? I am confusion.

Because corporatism reigns supreme. Big profits have no room for the little people who make their corporations run.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Can someone please explain to me why so many people hate teacher's unions? Is it because it is a union? Is it because they are teachers? I am confusion.

Which people hate them? If people hate them then they must be terrible.

 

[Friend of Mara]

Which people hate them? If people hate them then they must be terrible.

In the US there are whole organizations whose sole purpose is to get rid of them.

 

[Secret Chief]

Nonsense. Go tell the above to the Canadians and see what reaction you get.

Why, are they sensible?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I was a member of a Teacher's Association in Canada. Not sure how it works in the US but probably similar. Here are some reasons. I can dispute them all, but this is how I perceived it.
- People thought we didn't work hard, and were overpaid, and got 3 months paid holidays.
- Poor teachers had access to lawyers, when things went wrong, and the union did it's a best to protect abusive or criminal teachers.
- Teachers represented a communist plot, more or less.
- Teachers spent too much time not teaching the basics, and just having fun.
- Unions are unions, and because it's a union, it's bad.

Not disimiliar in the states, particularly the "teachers don't work hard" bit. People see us as "having the summer off" and not realizing the professional development, graduate classes, planning, curriculum development, etc. etc. that occurs during that time, not to mention the many extra hours during the school year.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Can someone please explain to me why so many people hate teacher's unions? Is it because it is a union? Is it because they are teachers? I am confusion.

It's all taxpayer funded contracts and and they typically suck the freaking life out of state coffers by buying the most hideously expensive perks and benefits and putting it all on the back of middle class taxpayers. Who can barely afford it as it is.

Classic example from the past .....


Buffalo schools spend $5.4 million on free plastic surgeries for teachers, despite massive deficit



Free boob jobs and botox lips all on taxpayer dime.

Yea.. all during a state deficit as well.

That's why people hate teacher's unions.

 

[Vinayaka]

Not disimiliar in the states, particularly the "teachers don't work hard" bit. People see us as "having the summer off" and not realizing the professional development, graduate classes, planning, curriculum development, etc. etc. that occurs during that time, not to mention the many extra hours during the school year.

On the years I did volleyball coaching and organising seriously, I put in 300 extra hours, unpaid.

 

[Father Heathen]

The right tends to hate anything that protects or empowers the little guy.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

It's all taxpayer funded contracts and and they typically suck the freaking life out of state coffers by buying the most hideously expensive perks and benefits and putting it all on the back of middle class taxpayers. Who can barely afford it as it is.

I am curious about what you think "hideously expensive perks and benefits" are in teacher's contracts and how what we earn is equal to the amount of training, education, evaluation, and responsibility inherent in being a modern teacher.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I am curious about what you think "hideously expensive perks and benefits" are in teacher's contracts and how what we earn is equal to the amount of training, education, evaluation, and responsibility inherent in being a modern teacher.

Are you kidding?

NYC alone is 38 billion. BILLION. Capital B

How much more does it freakin need?!!!



District Budget Data :Office of Educational Management - NYSED

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Are you kidding?

NYC alone is 38 billion. BILLION. Capital B

How much more does it freakin need?!!!



District Budget Data :Office of Educational Management - NYSED

That didn't answer the question of what you consider "hideously expensive perks and benefits."

Is that 38 billion for the whole budget of all of NYC's schools or just the "hideously expensive perks and benefits"?

 

[Friend of Mara]

It's all taxpayer funded contracts and and they typically suck the freaking life out of state coffers by buying the most hideously expensive perks and benefits and putting it all on the back of middle class taxpayers. Who can barely afford it as it is.

Classic example from the past .....


Buffalo schools spend $5.4 million on free plastic surgeries for teachers, despite massive deficit



Free boob jobs and botox lips all on taxpayer dime.

Yea.. all during a state deficit as well.

That's why people hate teacher's unions.

Wait till you hear about police unions

 

[Shaul]

A distinction needs to be made between teacher unions of public or private schools. There is little opposition against teacher unions of private schools. Regarding public school teacher unions there is more opposition. One big concern is an innate conflict of interest exists for government employee unions.

Nor must this be based upon Conservative animosity against unions. Many from across the political spectrum thought so. For example even President Franklin Roosevelt opposed Union’s for government employees. “All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations.” See here, Text of FDR Letter Opposing Public Employee (Government) Unions

On a personal note, I am a teacher myself. I am not a member of a teacher union and oppose them.

 

[Watchmen]

Oh really? even over the courts? even over the government that passes laws?

Again, I've worked for both, so please don't tell me what I've experienced over many years of working, plus what my father and maternal grandfather also experienced.

As if your personal experience and that of your father and grandfather is the be all end all of unions.

 

[Shaul]

For those interested in a different perspective, here is a link to a teacher profession organization that is an alternative to teacher unions.
Association of American Educators

 

[Ponder This]

Can someone please explain to me why so many people hate teacher's unions? Is it because it is a union? Is it because they are teachers? I am confusion.

I think the media tends to feed hate narratives.

That said, if children today are less educated than children yesterday, the blame is going to fall on teachers. The pandemic is not going to cut it as an excuse - that's like saying the dog ate your homework.

In the US there are whole organizations whose sole purpose is to get rid of them.

I'm not really familiar with any of these organizations, but it seems like the education system has always been heavily criticized. Has there ever been a time when it wasn't heavily criticized?

 

[Kooky]

Union = Socialism = Anti-American = Evil.

Which is ironic, as unlike some of their European counterparts, most American unions explicitly reject socialist ideology, and have actively taken part in the anti-socialist purges of America's past.

 

[Kooky]

Not disimiliar in the states, particularly the "teachers don't work hard" bit. People see us as "having the summer off" and not realizing the professional development, graduate classes, planning, curriculum development, etc. etc. that occurs during that time, not to mention the many extra hours during the school year.

And even if it was true, my reaction would more likely be "Good on them, let's go about achieving the same for us here!"

I find crapping on other workers because they might possibly have a cushier job emblematic for the crab bucket mentality modern capitalist society has indoctrinated the working class with. We should work to uplift one another, not drag one another further down.