Labor Giant Puts Politics, Pay Over Serving Teachers
NEA spends more on lobbying than representing members
The nation’s largest teachers union [the National Education Association, or “NEA”] spends three times as much money on politics, overhead, and union administration as it does on serving its membership, according to federal labor filings…
The union annually collects nearly $370 million in dues from its 3 million members, as well as its 88,000 non-member teachers, according to the filings…
A Colorado teacher who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon on condition of anonymity for fear of alienating union supporters said the NEA’s spending made her question its dedication to teachers…
… “The NEA claims that it is committed to advancing the cause of public education, but I think that there is a disconnect in furthering its political agenda.”…
“Big Labor unions like the NEA would rather push their radical political agenda instead of working to improve working conditions for their members,” [Ryan] Williams [of Worker Center Watch] said…
Our Response & Your Comments
Teachers’ unions were created to get more money for underpaid teachers. They’ve done that. Oregon teachers’ average salary is $58,758. When you annualize it, which means adjusting it to account for the fact that teachers work about 72% of the days that average employees work, their salaries average out at $81,608. The average Oregon employee earns $43,091. Teachers do quite well.
The NEA is now a $370 million business. It confiscates money from teachers in the form of dues and funnels it to politicians who repay them by voting for, as we quote above, “their radical political agenda.” That agenda may, or may not, help teachers. Least of all does it help the kids they say they’re fighting for.
As Eric Hoffer said, “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.”
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