Unions losing enrollment

[cabri]

Union enrollment plummets for Wisconsin teachers under tough law/

Teachers in Wisconsin's public schools have learned a major lesson from the state's landmark 2011 law neutering public sector unions, with more than a third dropping out of their labor organization.

Given no choice but to join and pay dues to the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) for decades, teachers have for the last three years been able to opt out. And that is what tens of thousands have done as a result of Gov. Scott Walker’s Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill, also known as Act 10.

When a choice is now available, many people are choosing NO

As soon as I was given the choice, I left," Amy Rosno, a teacher with the virtual class program at the Waukesha school system, told FoxNews.com. "I never really understood the union anyway."

Rosno said she had a better understanding once she was asked to be a representative for her department and attended her first WEAC meeting.

"I realized that it was all political and not about teaching," she said.

Teachers who spoke to the nonprofit education think tank EAGnews.org said they were glad to be free of the union's grip, especially because of the perception their dues were spent on political contributions.

“It’s important to have a choice, because we are all professionals," Michelle Uetz, a special education teacher at Prescott High School told the education news site. "We shouldn’t be pigeon-holed into contributing to politics we don’t believe in.”

 

[rudeguy]

what?

You mean when people aren't forced to join a union, their numbers drop? These people obviously have no idea what is best for them and should be committed. Minimum they should never be allowed to vote again.

 

[Smoblikat]

Awesome

 

[trenchfoot]

From my experience (as a union business agent), when given the option, drop outs naturally occur from the extreme ends of the spectrum of the union membership. One end representing those who feel the union constrained them from advancing in pay and position through hard work and uncommon effort, while from the other end, those who feel they were punished by the union via *unjustified* disciplinary actions taken against them that were agreed to by union and management representatives.

As far as the Wisconsin experience is concerned, you can include how the power of union representation was gutted by the policies the Walker adiministration placed upon the public union(s), making union membership useless in many union members eyes.

I've been keeping an eye on how the Walker adiministration has directly affected the economy and general welfare of the average Wisconsonian and it sure doesn't look like it helped them any.

 

[Subyman]

Unions suck until you need them. I've had too many friends that needed union support. I've changed my mind over the years and wouldn't say I am "pro-union", but I do see their benefit. Without a collective voice, the workers can't organize to push for better pay or have the power to push back against wrongful terminations. Even small groups like TA unions in colleges have made a huge difference.

Like anything, extremes on both sides are bad.

 

[HomerJS]

It's the nurses union who are standing up for health care workers who care for Ebola patients

 

[theeedude]

Great, less leverage for workers, more wealth concentration. Just what this country needs.

 

[Newell Steamer]

If there is no need for union representation - more power to them. And, in the event the teachers DO feel they are being taken advantage of, they can then move to another state.

WI's future is seeded with some bright rays of light and promise...

 

[Subyman]

If there is no need for union representation - more power to them. And, in the event the teachers DO feel they are being taken advantage of, they can then move to another state.

WI's future is seeded with some bright rays of light and promise...

Ah yes, corrupt administration messes with teachers. No recourse, so the good people leave for other states. A fine idea. There is a healthy balance that needs to be made between employer and employee. Without a collective voice, the employee has none and with the employer having vastly more resources than any singular employee, its a recipe for abuse. I'm not for huge monolithic unions, but collective bargaining is very important.

 

[unokitty]

Union enrollment plummets for Wisconsin teachers under tough law/



When a choice is now available, many people are choosing NO

This former Teamster (Local 743), isn't surprised.

Uno

 

[Newell Steamer]

Ah yes, corrupt administration messes with teachers. No recourse, so the good people leave for other states. A fine idea. There is a healthy balance that needs to be made between employer and employee. Without a collective voice, the employee has none and with the employer having vastly more resources than any singular employee, its a recipe for abuse. I'm not for huge monolithic unions, but collective bargaining is very important.

Hey, it is what the WI people want.

I don't agree with it - but, I don't even live in WI,.. so, what do I care if they want to let teachers to be left out in the lurch? One day WI will reap what it has sown.

I say; let them face a future where their teacher pool is low, since no one is really representing them.

 

[Subyman]

Hey, it is what the WI people want.

I don't agree with it - but, I don't even live in WI,.. so, what do I care if they want to let teachers to be left out in the lurch? One day WI will reap what it has sown.

I say; let them face a future where their teacher pool is low, since no one is really representing them.

Ah sorry about that. I didn't read what you said as being sarcastic. My bad.

My aunt went through a really rough situation with a school administrator and without the union she would have been screwed, so I can see the merit of the unions.

 

[TechBoyJK]

predictable because unions are stupid.

 

[cabri]

Great, less leverage for workers, more wealth concentration. Just what this country needs.

Yes, put the wealth back in the TAXPAYERS pocket, not in the union leadership.

This is a PUBLIC UNION that has members paid by the taxpaying public

 

[Newell Steamer]

Ah sorry about that. I didn't read what you said as being sarcastic. My bad.

My aunt went through a really rough situation with a school administrator and without the union she would have been screwed, so I can see the merit of the unions.

No worries!

I agree there should be representation. And, what should have been communicated to the union is; Hey, not much has been done by you, or needed by you right now,.. think you can lower the fees a bit??. Because some day, there will be the need for representation.

If the union's attitude was; pay or GTFO, then I can understand the exodus. But, I don't think people have realized, to your point, what they are exposing themselves to.

 

[theeedude]

Yes, put the wealth back in the TAXPAYERS pocket, not in the union leadership.

This is a PUBLIC UNION that has members paid by the taxpaying public

I guess Republicans think corporations are people, but unions are not

 

[glenn1]

I say; let them face a future where their teacher pool is low, since no one is really representing them.

While I'm not a teacher, I can take a reasonable SWAG and say that lack of a union isn't what's stopping people from considering teaching as a career. I bet it isn't on the top 10 list, maybe even top 25. Now whether unions could address some of those other disincentives to teach I'll leave to others to address.

 

[glenn1]

I guess Republicans think corporations are people, but unions are not

Unions enjoy the benefits of corporate personhood under the same "legal fiction" rules as corporations, so unsure what your complaint is.

 

[HumblePie]

Ah yes, corrupt administration messes with teachers. No recourse, so the good people leave for other states. A fine idea. There is a healthy balance that needs to be made between employer and employee. Without a collective voice, the employee has none and with the employer having vastly more resources than any singular employee, its a recipe for abuse. I'm not for huge monolithic unions, but collective bargaining is very important.

Collective bargaining only works when the union controls a resource the employer needs. In this case the labor. When unions can't control the labor force, they have no bargaining power.

In this day and age, labor in the states is almost not needed. Which is why much of the manufacturing jobs were shipped out. Only those companies forced to stay for various reasons, usually due in part to laws where they are located forcing them to not leave and to stay partnered with unions, are still using a lot of U.S. labor.

The problem is that unions work for some things and not for others in the US anymore. Even then, without laws to pressure companies to stay, companies are going to do business in the way that makes the most fiscal sense. If that means changing bases outside the states and using a workforce elsewhere it is going to be done.

There is no easy answer here.

 

[theeedude]

Unions enjoy the benefits of corporate personhood under the same "legal fiction" rules as corporations, so unsure what your complaint is.

Meaning Teacher Unions are Teachers.

 

[Newell Steamer]

,... lack of a union isn't what's stopping people from considering teaching as a career.

Correct - the union is not a career pamphlet - the workers are though.

And, if the workers get to the point where they are being vocal about how bad they have it (abuse, lack of benefits, etc.), fewer people will want to be come teachers.

 

[glenn1]

Meaning Teacher Unions are Teachers.

We've had this discussion before. Just because you're having a snit fit about Citizens United campaign finance ruling is no reason to eliminate the concept of corporate personhood. Unless you like the idea of the Bill of Rights not applying to unions and allowing the government to seize their property without compensation, conduct searches for no reason, no longer allow the union to sign contracts and own property, etc ad nauseum.

 

[Genx87]

My buddy works in WI and his wife is a teacher. From what he is telling me the policies implemented have gutted the reason for being in a Union. So many are opting out because why pay dues when the union lacks collective bargaining power? He is in public works and they dropped their union awhile ago. But the workers still have a representative that deals with the city for compensation. It just happens to be a worker within the department.

 

[theeedude]

Wisconsin is going to go the way of Kansas with education cuts, and overall dumbing trend and there will be no one to stand up to it. Good thing I don't live in either state.

 

[cabri]

Meaning Teacher Unions are Teachers.

I do not think that the Teacher's Union is looking out for the students nor do they require the same qualifications to be a teacher.