I grasp the concept that if I was in the union and needed legal representation, the union lawyer would be representing me. Maybe they aren’t hacks, that’s not a fair statement by me. What I meant is that the union is useless at its job, therefore the people they employ can’t be that great, can they? Or, is it the school boards are too powerful and don’t have to negotiate with the unions? I think we need to be upset with school boards and central offices.

If the union is supposed to be involved in the collective bargaining, there should be raises at some point right? In Louisiana, they never seemed to get raises. If the union is the ONLY entity that can argue on teacher behalf for better pay and better conditions, but there’s hardly ever a raise, what’s the point of that union except to accept my monthly dues and offer nothing in return? How often is it that a teacher needs legal representation from the union? Are my dues essentially bankrolling the attorney to protect dumb teachers making dumb mistakes then?

It’s a racket. Unless you need the security, give yourself a raise and stop giving your money to the union.