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Teacher Unions Chatboard

I support my union

by Karen M.

Jun 9, 2011

Both of my grandmothers worked as mill workers in a piecemeal garment factory in Pennsylvania. I grew up knowing the song "Look for the Union Label". You knew clothes with that label were made by Americans, IN America, and it was quality work.

Fast forward to my first teaching job back in 1979. I was debating about joining the union. I wasn't being paid a lot to begin with, was on a very tight budget, and the dues seemed like a lot at the time. Then I asked a veteran teacher for her opinion, and received one of the best lessons ever.

She had started teaching back when there were no unions. When she started teaching, she had a B.S. degree and a M. Ed degree and was a special ed teacher, and she wasn't even making minimum wage. The union fought for a minimum wage for teachers.

When she started teaching, female teachers could be dismissed if they got pregnant. They could also be dismissed if they didn't "fool around" with their principals. The union worked for t...See More

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Marietta O'Reilly On 6/09/11, Karen M. wrote: I too support unions as I support the need for reform in some unions. I will continue to communicate with my union leaders when I don't fully support a position that they support within our district. We need to stand together and be active in our unions if we want them to be truly representative of the membership. > B...See MoreOn 6/09/11, Karen M. wrote: I too support unions as I support the need for reform in some unions. I will continue to communicate with my union leaders when I don't fully support a position that they support within our district. We need to stand together and be active in our unions if we want them to be truly representative of the membership. > Both of my grandmothers worked as mill workers in a > piecemeal garment factory in Pennsylvania. I grew up > knowing the song "Look for the Union Label". You knew > clothes with that label were made by Americans, IN America, > and it was quality work. > > Fast forward to my first teaching job back in 1979. I was > debating about joining the union. I wasn't being paid a > lot to begin with, was on a very tight budget, and the dues > seemed like a lot at the time. Then I asked a veteran > teacher for her opinion, and received one of the best > lessons ever. > > She had started teaching back when there were no unions. > When she started teaching, she had a B.S. degree and a M. > Ed degree and was a special ed teacher, and she wasn't even > making minimum wage. The union fought for a minimum wage > for teachers. > > When she started teaching, female teachers could be > dismissed if they got pregnant. They could also be > dismissed if they didn't "fool around" with their > principals. The union worked for teacher protection and > rights. > > When she started teaching, you had no sick days or personal > days. You weren't able to attend professional conferences > or go back to school and get additional credit for these > things. The union worked to develop a pay step increment > ladder for teachers. > > When she started teaching, if you were hurt on the job or > accused of doing anything while on the job, you had no > help. No protection at all. No representation. The union > worked to develop protocol for when those things happen. > > We may not experience all of the benefits that the union > has worked for all these years, but they, and others, are > there IF we ever need them. The union works tirelessly on > behalf of US, the teachers. I GLADLY pay my union dues, > write letters, wear my union tshirt, read my union > mailings, and attend informational meetings. I will do > everything I possibly can so that my union will continue to > be there for me.

Jun 9, 2011

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Amanda On 6/09/11, DeAnn wrote: > I donate my time as an officer in our local. Currently I am in > charge of membership. I never get so discouraged as when > fellow colleagues don't see the value in joining the > association/union. We are a right to work state so they feel > no pressure to join. One can point out all the benefits > recei...See More

Jun 9, 2011

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Wendy On 6/09/11, Marietta O'Reilly wrote: > On 6/09/11, Karen M. wrote: > I too support unions as I support the need for reform in some > unions. I will continue to communicate with my union leaders > when I don't fully support a position that they support within > our district. We need to stand together and be active in our > unions i...See MoreOn 6/09/11, Marietta O'Reilly wrote: > On 6/09/11, Karen M. wrote: > I too support unions as I support the need for reform in some > unions. I will continue to communicate with my union leaders > when I don't fully support a position that they support within > our district. We need to stand together and be active in our > unions if we want them to be truly representative of the > membership. >> Both of my grandmothers worked as mill workers in a >> piecemeal garment factory in Pennsylvania. I grew up >> knowing the song "Look for the Union Label". You knew >> clothes with that label were made by Americans, IN America, >> and it was quality work. >> >> Fast forward to my first teaching job back in 1979. I was >> debating about joining the union. I wasn't being paid a >> lot to begin with, was on a very tight budget, and the dues >> seemed like a lot at the time. Then I asked a veteran >> teacher for her opinion, and received one of the best >> lessons ever. >> >> She had started teaching back when there were no unions. >> When she started teaching, she had a B.S. degree and a M. >> Ed degree and was a special ed teacher, and she wasn't even >> making minimum wage. The union fought for a minimum wage >> for teachers. >> >> When she started teaching, female teachers could be >> dismissed if they got pregnant. They could also be >> dismissed if they didn't "fool around" with their >> principals. The union worked for teacher protection and >> rights. >> >> When she started teaching, you had no sick days or personal >> days. You weren't able to attend professional conferences >> or go back to school and get additional credit for these >> things. The union worked to develop a pay step increment >> ladder for teachers. >> >> When she started teaching, if you were hurt on the job or >> accused of doing anything while on the job, you had no >> help. No protection at all. No representation. The union >> worked to develop protocol for when those things happen. >> >> We may not experience all of the benefits that the union >> has worked for all these years, but they, and others, are >> there IF we ever need them. The union works tirelessly on >> behalf of US, the teachers. I GLADLY pay my union dues, >> write letters, wear my union tshirt, read my union >> mailings, and attend informational meetings. I will do >> everything I possibly can so that my union will continue to >> be there for me. I have been a union member for over 20 years and I proudly support my local association. We fought for fair wages and conditions against an anti-teacher city administration and ended up taking the illegal step of striking. We made up the missed school days and paid our hefty fine. We had lots of support from parents and other locals as well as our state association. I was also supported by my local association when I was riffed over less qualified teacher.

I have been on the representative council for many years and have had the chance to voice concerns about the direction our state association has taken. Supporting the union does not mean giving leadership free reign to do as they please, it means being an active participant.

It is disheartening when teachers and teacher unions get bashed for all the problems in education. Unions support us as we support each other for the important and challenging work we do each day

Jun 10, 2011

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Aunty M - well said, Wendy. Thanks - nfm On 6/10/11, Wendy wrote: > On 6/09/11, Marietta O'Reilly wrote: >> On 6/09/11, Karen M. wrote: >> I too support unions as I support the need for reform in some >> unions. I will continue to communicate with my union leaders >> when I don't fully support a position that they support within >> our district. We need to...See MoreOn 6/10/11, Wendy wrote: > On 6/09/11, Marietta O'Reilly wrote: >> On 6/09/11, Karen M. wrote: >> I too support unions as I support the need for reform in some >> unions. I will continue to communicate with my union leaders >> when I don't fully support a position that they support within >> our district. We need to stand together and be active in our >> unions if we want them to be truly representative of the >> membership. >>> Both of my grandmothers worked as mill workers in a >>> piecemeal garment factory in Pennsylvania. I grew up >>> knowing the song "Look for the Union Label". You knew >>> clothes with that label were made by Americans, IN America, >>> and it was quality work. >>> >>> Fast forward to my first teaching job back in 1979. I was >>> debating about joining the union. I wasn't being paid a >>> lot to begin with, was on a very tight budget, and the dues >>> seemed like a lot at the time. Then I asked a veteran >>> teacher for her opinion, and received one of the best >>> lessons ever. >>> >>> She had started teaching back when there were no unions. >>> When she started teaching, she had a B.S. degree and a M. >>> Ed degree and was a special ed teacher, and she wasn't even >>> making minimum wage. The union fought for a minimum wage >>> for teachers. >>> >>> When she started teaching, female teachers could be >>> dismissed if they got pregnant. They could also be >>> dismissed if they didn't "fool around" with their >>> principals. The union worked for teacher protection and >>> rights. >>> >>> When she started teaching, you had no sick days or personal >>> days. You weren't able to attend professional conferences >>> or go back to school and get additional credit for these >>> things. The union worked to develop a pay step increment >>> ladder for teachers. >>> >>> When she started teaching, if you were hurt on the job or >>> accused of doing anything while on the job, you had no >>> help. No protection at all. No representation. The union >>> worked to develop protocol for when those things happen. >>> >>> We may not experience all of the benefits that the union >>> has worked for all these years, but they, and others, are >>> there IF we ever need them. The union works tirelessly on >>> behalf of US, the teachers. I GLADLY pay my union dues, >>> write letters, wear my union tshirt, read my union >>> mailings, and attend informational meetings. I will do >>> everything I possibly can so that my union will continue to >>> be there for me. > I have been a union member for over 20 years and I proudly > support my local association. We fought for fair wages and > conditions against an anti-teacher city administration and ended > up taking the illegal step of striking. We made up the missed > school days and paid our hefty fine. We had lots of support from > parents and other locals as well as our state association. I > was also supported by my local association when I was riffed > over less qualified teacher. > > I have been on the representative council for many years and have > had the chance to voice concerns about the direction our state > association has taken. Supporting the union does not mean > giving leadership free reign to do as they please, it means being > an active participant. > > It is disheartening when teachers and teacher unions get bashed > for all the problems in education. Unions support us as we > support each other for the important and challenging work we do > each day

Jun 10, 2011

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Sally My union president says: United we bargain, divided we beg! That says it all.

On 6/10/11, Aunty M - well said, Wendy. Thanks - nfm wrote: > On 6/10/11, Wendy wrote: >> On 6/09/11, Marietta O'Reilly wrote: >>> On 6/09/11, Karen M. wrote: >>> I too support unions as I support the need for reform in some >>&g...See MoreMy union president says: United we bargain, divided we beg! That says it all.

On 6/10/11, Aunty M - well said, Wendy. Thanks - nfm wrote: > On 6/10/11, Wendy wrote: >> On 6/09/11, Marietta O'Reilly wrote: >>> On 6/09/11, Karen M. wrote: >>> I too support unions as I support the need for reform in some >>> unions. I will continue to communicate with my union leaders >>> when I don't fully support a position that they support within >>> our district. We need to stand together and be active in our >>> unions if we want them to be truly representative of the >>> membership. >>>> Both of my grandmothers worked as mill workers in a >>>> piecemeal garment factory in Pennsylvania. I grew up >>>> knowing the song "Look for the Union Label". You knew >>>> clothes with that label were made by Americans, IN America, >>>> and it was quality work. >>>> >>>> Fast forward to my first teaching job back in 1979. I was >>>> debating about joining the union. I wasn't being paid a >>>> lot to begin with, was on a very tight budget, and the dues >>>> seemed like a lot at the time. Then I asked a veteran >>>> teacher for her opinion, and received one of the best >>>> lessons ever. >>>> >>>> She had started teaching back when there were no unions. >>>> When she started teaching, she had a B.S. degree and a M. >>>> Ed degree and was a special ed teacher, and she wasn't even >>>> making minimum wage. The union fought for a minimum wage >>>> for teachers. >>>> >>>> When she started teaching, female teachers could be >>>> dismissed if they got pregnant. They could also be >>>> dismissed if they didn't "fool around" with their >>>> principals. The union worked for teacher protection and >>>> rights. >>>> >>>> When she started teaching, you had no sick days or personal >>>> days. You weren't able to attend professional conferences >>>> or go back to school and get additional credit for these >>>> things. The union worked to develop a pay step increment >>>> ladder for teachers. >>>> >>>> When she started teaching, if you were hurt on the job or >>>> accused of doing anything while on the job, you had no >>>> help. No protection at all. No representation. The union >>>> worked to develop protocol for when those things happen. >>>> >>>> We may not experience all of the benefits that the union >>>> has worked for all these years, but they, and others, are >>>> there IF we ever need them. The union works tirelessly on >>>> behalf of US, the teachers. I GLADLY pay my union dues, >>>> write letters, wear my union tshirt, read my union >>>> mailings, and attend informational meetings. I will do >>>> everything I possibly can so that my union will continue to >>>> be there for me. >> I have been a union member for over 20 years and I proudly >> support my local association. We fought for fair wages and >> conditions against an anti-teacher city administration and ended >> up taking the illegal step of striking. We made up the > missed >> school days and paid our hefty fine. We had lots of support from >> parents and other locals as well as our state association. I >> was also supported by my local association when I was > riffed >> over less qualified teacher. >> >> I have been on the representative council for many years and have >> had the chance to voice concerns about the direction our state >> association has taken. Supporting the union does not mean >> giving leadership free reign to do as they please, it means being >> an active participant. >> >> It is disheartening when teachers and teacher unions get bashed >> for all the problems in education. Unions support us as we >> support each other for the important and challenging work we do >> each day

Nov 8, 2012

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