-
- All
teachers foot the bill
NEA, WEA plot to
get their darlings elected in November
OLYMPIA (Thursday 3-23-00)---The National
Education Association Board has given the nod to
assess each NEA member an additional five to ten
dollars dues this year.
Union bosses want to raise between $12.5 and $25
million to influence fall elections. The dough will
come from paychecks of NEA's 2.5 million members.
The NEA Board will try to push this proposal
through its "Representative Assembly" in July.
In Washington state, most teachers must
currently pay the NEA $112 per year (WEA gets $272.00,
"UniServs" get $60-$112, and locals get $24-$200).
"Most teachers' total dues are over $600 a
year," said Jami Lund, Evergreen Freedom Foundation
investigator. "Contract negotiations only require a
fraction of this...leaving the rest of the money for
other causes," he said.
The hike in mandatory dues will create a new
slush fund for what the NEA calls "contingencies." In
the past, these "contingencies" have included funding
for or against initiative campaigns. Persons not sure
of NEA policy goals can click
this.
"So, while teachers struggle for better wages,
NEA officials hope to tap into their paychecks even
more to enhance the union officials' political clout,"
said Lund.
Meanwhile, one-in-five NEA national employees
receives a six-figure salary.
To check out WEA top dog salaries click
this.
