"At its biennial convention July 19-22, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) adopted an official position against the war in Iraq, calling on U.S. officials to 'withdraw all troops, bases and military operations in a rapid and timely manner and to put a stop to the unending military presence that will waste lives and resources, undermine our nation's security and weaken our military.'
"...The union also approved a resolution vowing to 'monitor the condition of human and trade union rights in China' and 'demand that the Chinese government extend to all Chinese citizens their basic human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of religion.' Other resolutions encouraged members to boycott Wal-Mart because of the retail giant's alleged anti-union efforts and reiterated the AFT's longstanding support for abortion rights."
- CNS News, 7/25/06
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6 comments:
It seems to me that most Teacher and Labor Unions lean heavily to the left. Why is that?
I'm sure China is shaking in their "military" boots.
Most Labor Unions were started in the socialist/communist heyday, thus they by nature lean to the left.
They are very anti-big business as they are supposed to be for the "little guy." Yet, most of their efforts acutally hurt the people they pretend to help the most.
For example, the car industry. Right now all the big American car makers are seriously hurting financially. The major reason being pensions. The unions won't budge one inch on lessening these pensions. In the end it will result in either major job losses as the companies continue to cut overhead or it will just delay the inevitable and the pensions will be cut. Neither option is good for the "little guy."
I could go on and on. There is a newsletter I subscribe to called the "Union Label", and it highlights all the "help" the unions are giving the workers. It is very sad indeed.
I do agree with your post. Unions really started as a way to protect the little man from being worked too the core. They did do some wonderful things -- such as the 40 hour work week, pushing for safer conditions, and finally getting some child labor laws. But they have become basically the thing they were fighting against -- the powerful. They now look to keep power at any cost and forget about the little guy. As a former member of AFT (I was the little (and I hate to say it -- white) guy in basically a corrupt system), I actually hated being a member. But my job was threatened more than once (one time it was that my class room wasn't neat enough -- the principal walked in after an art project and before I had a chance to clean up) I needed the protection.
But really the AFT is all screwed up. Why aren't they pushing harder for the downfall of NCLB? And they want to talk human rights. Go to any public school in a urban setting. Teachers and students aren't working in great conditions. As far as Wal-Mart is concerned (not my favorite store not because of unions, but because I like mom and pops) teachers shop there because schools don't provide them with enough materials. I've had in the past to buy my own chalk, erasers, pencils and pens (both of which when you teach seem to disappear quickly), workbooks, etc. If they were pushing harder for getting equipped classrooms then teachers wouldn't be spending an average of $400 a year at places like wal-mart on just their classrooms.
Unbelievable!!!!!!!! The Teacher's Union is one of the biggest strongholds that the liberals have left. This is completely ridiculous, like you said what does the Iraq war have to do with education. The Teacher's Union is almost as bad as the UN, sheesh!!!!
crummy...thanks for the personal insights
Well I see it from both sides. And I thank God that I work for a school system that has (as of right now) no need to organize. If I need (within reason), I get it. And they support their teachers.
Oh one more thing, the parish in which I worked for a union had 12 american history textbooks for 60 students taking american history. Wonder why test scores in major cities are low?
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