Wipe Out Teachers Unions, Wipe Out Kids Futures

          Image by mrbula via Flickr

Only five states do not have collective bargaining for educators and have deemed it illegal; South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia.

The states respective (but not respected) ACT/SAT rankings are: 50th, 49th, 48th, 47th, and  44th. Wisconsin is ranked 2nd in the country. See a pattern here?

Another Fine Post from: No 2 Religion - Just Say No!

Watch Out California, The Union Busters Are Coming

Assemblyman Alan Mansoor

Despite being a mostly democratic state that is relatively pro-union, I still figured it would just be a matter of time before a California politician proposed an anti-union bill.

From Michael Mishak at PolitiCal

California Republicans are finding inspiration in the Midwest.

Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) introduced a bill Tuesday that would eliminate the right of public employees to collectively bargain for pension benefits. The measure is partly a response to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whose controversial bill to eliminate collective bargaining for most public employee unions has prompted massive protests and a walkout by Democratic lawmakers. The Indiana state Senate also has passed a bill that would limit the power of teachers’ unions.

“I stand in solidarity with the courageous legislators in the Midwest who are taking brave steps to do the right thing for all of their citizens, not just public employee union campaign contributors,” Mansoor said in a statement.

Opposition to Mansoor’s bill will likely be swift in deep-blue California. The state has a Democratic-majority Legislature, and Gov. Jerry Brown has already said he would not pursue Wisconsin-type measures to challenge public employees. Republicans, however, are demanding pension reform as part of the state's ongoing budget talks.

Like labor organizations elsewhere this week, the state’s largest public employee unions have planned a candlelight vigil on the Capitol steps Tuesday evening in support of Wisconsin workers.

(Bold added by me)

Another Fine Post from: No 2 Religion - Just Say No!

Signs, Signs, Everywhere There's Signs

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Another Fine Post from: No 2 Religion - Just Say No!

Random Thought 001

I was calling my fellow union members for support for Jerry Brown and propositions 24 and 25 and I was surprised at how many of my members are republican. It surprised me since unions are typically democrat strongholds.

So, why are there so many republican union members ?

Getting Involved

Image by popofatticus via Flickr

There is a lot of talk on various blogs about getting involved. But what does getting involved mean? Although, I think getting involved means something different for everyone, what ever it means to you, just get involved.

For me, getting involved meant becoming active in my union. Instead of jumping in both feet first I started out as webmaster for my chapter and after about six months I attended the Chapter Public Relations Officer academy. Chapter Public Relations Officer (CPRO) seemed like the next logical step because it was basically what I was doing as webmaster. Additionally, the position was open on my chapter's executive board.

Last year I was recommended to the Regional Representative for the position of Political Action Coordinator (PAC). I readily accepted the position because it was time to put my mouth where my politics were; progressively to left. I have, for the most part always voted democrat, and for the last 15-20 years I have voted exclusively democrat and more progressively with each election. Without doubt I am a yellow dog democrat. 

The advantage of getting involved with my union was familiarity. I knew the people, I knew the subject and I knew the politics. Well at least I thought I knew the people, the subject and the politics.

Most of the people are like minded liberals of varying degrees. However, it surprised me to find so many religious conservatives in the union. I also found out the subject was much deeper than I thought. At least the politics were mostly what I suspected - progressively liberal.

Overall, I am still getting my feet wet as my region's PAC but I have enjoyed what I have done so far and I am looking forward to the coming months working up to the November election.

Now get out there and get involved.