The Teachers’ Lounge
Veteran Teacher Sends Break-Up Letter to Union
Susan Fischer left her union after 30 years of trying to make labor relations work better for New Jersey teachers. Unions should do a better job of keeping teachers like her.
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Janus and Williams: Future is bright for government workers
Mark Janus and Keith Williams, both former government workers, believe it’s critical to protect the freedom of association of public sector workers. In this article, they explain why the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME is already doing a world of good for workers who have long disagreed with how their labor unions are run.
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Unions: Just telling government workers their rights is a terrible idea
Our takeaway from the PA House committee hearing was clear: whenever we try to offer a choice to government workers, unions become terrified. They resort to smear tactics and “guilt by association.” But they leave out any compelling reason why workers shouldn’t have a choice.
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Akron’s “I Promise” School teachers’ union is a slam-dunk
Besides free bikes, Chromebooks, and meals, “I Promise” has a little-known secret weapon: a teachers’ union that is totally independent of the national teachers’ unions—the NEA and AFT.
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Pittsburgh union-paid mouthpiece calls AFFT’s Keith Williams a “paid mouthpiece”
We speak up when unions’ power politics make teachers’ lives more difficult. It’s our job to report on their unfair workplace practices and unbalanced political influence. But every once in a while, the union does our job for us!
Cue this letter to the editor from Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) President Nina Esposito-Visgitis.
Kick back for Labor Day, then come back ready to fight
When teachers stop letting their union dictate everything about their jobs, there’s no limit to what they can achieve in Pennsylvania.
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This piece of back-to-school paperwork could cost a teacher over $700
If you’re a public school teacher who wants to stop paying for union politics, the Supreme Court says that’s your constitutional right. Free to Teach hosts an easy three-step process to help you resign union membership and stop paying for politics you don’t like.
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Sorry, you don’t get to vote
Fewer than 1% of current public school teachers in Pennsylvania had the opportunity to vote to certify the union that represents them. How can unions claim to be the “representatives” of teachers if the teachers never even got to vote? We criticize that kind of autocracy in civics class, and shouldn’t accept it in the workplace.
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There’s an easy solution to unions’ “freeloader” problem
If teachers aren’t paying for union representation, they should not receive union benefits. Teachers who never joined the union and/or were fee payers actually wanted this state of affairs from the beginning of their employment. They are happy to negotiate their own contracts.
The problem is, they have never had the option of representing themselves. Unions should advocate that they do.
The year of employee freedom, thanks to U.S. Supreme Court
By striking down fair share fees, Janus v. AFSCME has made 2018 a monumental year for worker freedom.
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Poll Finds Union Leaders Out of Touch
Today, teachers across Pennsylvania are forced to pay for union activities that many don’t support. To many, they feel manipulated by unions that don’t represent their interests or beliefs. The majority of teachers have never had the opportunity to vote for their...
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March Madness Union Dues Scam
To flush their political coffer with cash, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculty (APSCUF) runs a dues rebate campaign annually. APSCUF designs the rebate campaign by first overcharging members on dues. Then around March, the union sends...
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