My state teachers union was not worth spit

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Teacher Unions Chatboard

My state teachers union was not worth spit

by VET

Jun 11, 2011

The only thing they could be depended on was to raise rates every year.

The one time I called to ask them for the help they should have provided, no one ever bothered to return my call.

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Colette It must depend on what state you are in. In Virginia(right to work state) we do not have a union but we have an association. I am a site rep and I keep teachers informed of legislation, meetings and who they need to talk to in a crisis. I do not get paid. But I still feel if someone contacts an association or a union and do not get a response you n...See MoreIt must depend on what state you are in. In Virginia(right to work state) we do not have a union but we have an association. I am a site rep and I keep teachers informed of legislation, meetings and who they need to talk to in a crisis. I do not get paid. But I still feel if someone contacts an association or a union and do not get a response you need to contact them again. Sorry Vet had a bad experience but I still feel unions are necessary.

On 6/12/11, Stellaluna to sci-saxet wrote: > They do get paid....not much... if you figured how much > time they put in it > would be far less than minimum wage... but it is a > small stipend that is dependent on how many meetings > they attend. I am not sure of the exact amount... I > want to say that it is in the 40/month range. The > meetings last a minimum of 2 hours.... then they hold > meetings on site, keep members informed of all > information, it in on meetings with unit members and > admin. when requested, counsel unit members on contract > and grievance issues.... I would say that a site rep > puts in a minimum of 10 hours a month on union > issues..... much more at sites where there are > administrators who like to push the limits... those > reps are pretty busy! > > In my district there are 7 main union people for nearly > 1000 teachers. The job of the site rep is to assist the > teachers at his/her campus with issues that arise. > Often the issue can be resolved at that level with the > help of the site rep...or the site rep will consult > with main union people to determine if this really is a > union issue... (ie... is this really just a case of a > teacher who is not skilled who is legitimately being > disciplined by admin. in which case the member is > advised as such) > > If the issue cannot be resolved at the site level, then > it moves to the main people who take over. A grievance > that reaches this level is usually very serious and > very time consuming which is why our top people do not > usually have the time to deal with all of the other > issues that are resolved more easily. At this level > there are meetings, meetings, meetings.... paperwork > and more meetings. > > I can't imagine how a district's union can function > without the site reps. > > > > On 6/12/11, sci-saxet --do your site reps get paid? wrote: >> You commented that there aren't a lot of union reps >> to help everyone out when a situation arises. >> However, you mention that some schools have site >> reps. Are these people paid? >> >> >> On 6/11/11, Stellaluna to VET wrote: >>> Did you not have a site rep? The way our system >>> works... but of course I have no idea if ours is >>> the norm.... is that each site has its own rep who >>> is responsible for assisting people on that campus >>> in case of an issue. Then, if that person is unable >>> to come to a favorable solution then it goes to the >>> "higher ups" on the union. They are a >>> small number of people who represent a HUGE number >>> of teachers. They are EXTREMELY busy in their >>> duties which are on top of a full time teaching >>> schedule. In my district they only step in after >>> the site rep has assisted the unit member and been >>> unsuccessful. >>> >>> Is this the way other districts are set up or is >>> our district unique? >>> >>> >>> >>> On 6/11/11, VET to Colette wrote: >>>> I should NOT have had to call back and besides it >>>> was a time-sensitive problem. >>>> >>>> I repeat: My state teachers union was not worth spit! >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 6/11/11, colette wrote: >>>>> On 6/11/11, Colette wrote: >>>>>> On 6/11/11, VET wrote: >>>>>>> The only thing they could be depended on >>>>>>> was to raise rates every year. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The one time I called to ask them for the >>>>>>> help they should have provided, no one ever >>>>>>> bothered to return my call. >>>>>> >>>>>> Did you ever call back? Seems like a no >>>>>> brainer to me. Union offices are very busy >>>>>> and how do you know they even got your >>>>> call. you can't blame the union entirely for that one. >>>>>> >>>>>> All I can say is I worked in New York City a >>>>>> union state and now in Virginia a right to >>>>>> work state .Give me a union state any day. >>>>>> Also why all the hate of teacher unions and >>>>>> teachers right now? - they are every where >>>>>> and can mobolize people into strong voting >>>>>> blocks. Also the teachers have huge pensions >>>>>> and states would love to tap into that money. >>>>>> NYC used our pensions to help with their >>>>>> financial crisis and we will probably see >>>>>> more of this

Jun 12, 2011

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SEMarion We need to learn that a teacher's union is only going to be a effective as our involvement in it. When you take a look at the history This past school year our teacher union was able to save the contribution process for the teachers of our state. Had it not been for the lobby efforts of our union and their presence in our state capital we would hav...See MoreWe need to learn that a teacher's union is only going to be a effective as our involvement in it. When you take a look at the history This past school year our teacher union was able to save the contribution process for the teachers of our state. Had it not been for the lobby efforts of our union and their presence in our state capital we would have lost a lot and would be paying more out of our megar pay checks to maintain our retirement program. There is a huge attack going on across our nation toward labor unions. Much that has been fought for and earned in the past is being taken away for the common man. There are some who say that with all this effort to put down the unions and to take away bargaining rights we are eliminating the middle class in our nation. I have to admit that it sure looks like this is what is happening. Our unions can speak up for us with a loud voice. It takes a loud voice these days to be heard over all the other noise. I wouldn't be a teacher today without being a member of the union. I need someone to look out for my interst so I can focus on my instruction.

On 6/11/11, VET to Stellaluna wrote: > No site rep. > > On 6/11/11, Stellaluna to VET wrote: >> Did you not have a site rep? The way our system works... but of course >> I have no idea if ours is the norm.... is that each site has its own >> rep who is responsible for assisting people on that campus in case of >> an issue. Then, if that person is unable to come to a favorable >> solution then it goes to the "higher ups" on the union. They are a >> small number of people who represent a HUGE number of teachers. They >> are EXTREMELY busy in their duties which are on top of a full time >> teaching schedule. In my district they only step in after the site rep >> has assisted the unit member and been unsuccessful. >> >> Is this the way other districts are set up or is our district unique? >> >> >> >> On 6/11/11, VET to Colette wrote: >>> I should NOT have had to call back and besides it was a >>> time-sensitive problem. >>> >>> I repeat: My state teachers union was not worth spit! >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 6/11/11, colette wrote: >>>> On 6/11/11, Colette wrote: >>>>> On 6/11/11, VET wrote: >>>>>> The only thing they could be depended on was to raise rates >>>>>> every year. >>>>>> >>>>>> The one time I called to ask them for the help they should >>>>>> have provided, no one ever bothered to return my call. >>>>> >>>>> Did you ever call back? Seems like a no brainer to me. Union >>>>> offices are very busy and how do you know they even got your >>>> call. you can't blame the union entirely for that one. >>>>> >>>>> All I can say is I worked in New York City a union state and >>>>> now in Virginia a right to work state .Give me a union state >>>>> any day. Also why all the hate of teacher unions and teachers >>>>> right now? - they are every where and can mobolize people into >>>>> strong voting blocks. Also the teachers have huge pensions >>>>> and states would love to tap into that money. NYC used our >>>>> pensions to help with their financial crisis and we will >>>>> probably see more of this

Jun 15, 2011

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JB On 6/11/11, VET wrote: > The only thing they could be depended on was to raise rates > every year. > > The one time I called to ask them for the help they should > have provided, no one ever bothered to return my call.

Boy, do I have to agree with you. And I didn't get any help because the union president didn't like me... ...See More

Jun 22, 2011

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paula We have monthly meetings, a calendar of meeting days for the year, and an agenda for our meetings.

Generally the meetings last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. We have topics, discuss our budget, and then have time to discuss site issues.

Our district rep is paid, full time. Our president is a teacher and works a 75% contract so that she ...See More

Jul 13, 2011

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Sally The three union reps at my large high school do NOT get paid. All of them are regular full time classroom teachers who volunteer and are elected by their fellow teachers to be reps. Usually, whoever runs gets automatically elected because it is a difficult and time consuming volunteer position. Bless them for taking the time and making the effort! ...See More

Nov 8, 2012

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