#2 Teacher Union Bosses vs. the People of Wisconsin

# 2 Teacher Union Bosses vs. the People of Wisconsin

In pursuit of the truth – www.cinopsbegone.com – Monday, February 21, 2011

This is the second in a series of past letters on unions in public education. Here is one dated Sept. 15, 1986 – President and Fellow School Board Members:

“The bottom line is the integrity of the teaching profession and the survival of the public school system. If you don’t do anything about it who will? What am I talking about? It is Senate Bill 160, the teacher collective bargaining law of 1976.

“Reasonable men and women can come to some kind of agreement when they evaluate a law that has been in existence for ten years. The law of 1976 has legalized within the public school system, I repeat legalized 1.) adversary relationship, 2.) exclusivity, 3.) agency fees, 4.) coercion indirect and direct to join the exclusive teacher organization. By legalizing these four negative principles, the law is changing the nature of the teaching profession and politicizing it.

“From 1964 to 1969, I was a voluntary member of the NEA and CTA. For over a hundred years these two professional teacher organizations fought these four negative principles, and then they changed to become a union. I did not renew my membership because I was not going to accept adversary relationship, exclusivity, agency fees, and coercion as part of my teaching profession.

“Is it possible that industrial type unionism was never intended for public employees, least of all teachers? “THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT UNIONISM IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS NOT A SACRED COW AND NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED AND DISCUSSED OPENLY.

“Possibly if we legalized the principles of cooperation and freedom for teachers to choose the organization of their choice and have proportional representation with payroll deductions of dues, we will add a breadth of fresh air to the negotiating table between teachers and management. The principle of adversary relationship does not enhance the teaching profession and the public school system. “I hate a raw deal. I’ve spend hundreds of hours away from my family needs fighting S.B. 160, and I’ll spend hundreds of hours in the future working to change and repeal this unfair and bad law.

“THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT ANYTHING THAT LENDS ITSELF TO THE POLITICIZING PUBLIC EDUCATION IS SUSPECT, AND MORE THAN LIKELY NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EDUCATING CHILDREN. S.B. 160 IS AN ALBATROSS AROUND PUBLIC EDUCATION’S NECK.

“The schools belong to the public. Teachers are public employees first and foremost. They ought not to be forced by the school board to join and pay an organization that they do not believe in.

“THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE INTEGRITY OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION. IF YOU, YOU, AND YOU DON’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, WHO WILL?”

George H. Kubeck
P.S. Teachers represent the parents. What is best for the education of children is the top priority? I hope the Tea Party Movement will become involved. S.B. 160 Rodda Act is similar to the one in Wisconsin. Feb. 21, 2011