By Antonio D. French
Filed Wednesday, June 7 at 3:59 PM
The vice-president of the teachers union asked the St. Louis Board of Education yesterday to put on next week's regular board meeting agenda a proposal to require employees who have opted not to join the union to pay union fees.
"We have to service all the employees in the bargaining units, and we do, and it seems only fair that non-members... pay a small incremental fee," said Byron Clemens, VP of Local 420.
Clemens called the proposal a "fair share" program. But board member Ron Jackson questioned its timing.
"Why is Local 420 bringing this proposal forward at this time?" asked Jackson. Clemens said it seemed like a good time.
The school board resolved to asked Superintendent Creg Williams and representatives of the union to "meet and confer" about the proposal before next week's meeting.
20 Comments:
My understanding was that NEA, which is part of the teamsters, dues were mandatory. And, I was told by a teacher that the MSTA is part of the NEA. Is this union a local for the NEA or the MSTA, or is this another group?
Wednesday, June 07, 2006 11:18:00 PM
Local 420 is an affiliate of the AFT American Federation of Teachers
Thursday, June 08, 2006 10:55:00 AM
Again it amazes me how the Teachers in the SLPS can speak so loudly about everything BUT the students and their education. I have watched,listend and learned quite a bit before forming an opinion...and I can now conclude that although it is not everyone, it seems so much easier for the Union to point the finger at Dr. Williams ALL THE TIME instead of just doing their jobs...period. I have heard the Union complain about everything from job security to being told by Dr. Williams to keep their classrooms clean. Now, its about getting the Teachers NOT in the messy Union to make payments of some kind. Yet, it has not occured to them that when our students are not up to par...it reflects not ONLY the parents and the superintendent but guess who?...THE TEACHERS...ALL OF THEM! So, my stance is on the side of Dr. Williams at this point and that is...when we can get actual results of renewed passionate teaching, unconditional giving and selflessness showcased on a mega level throughout the student body...I am not interested in hearing the additional complaints of a union that has not produced. It even leaves me to question whether or not the teachers are just upset that someone (Dr. Williams and company) has finally highlighted weak areas that the Union probably knew about all along? Its something how 'darkness' always hates the 'light'.
Friday, June 09, 2006 9:33:00 AM
Local 420 made it harder for Superintendent Hammonds to remove James Beine from the district. Given the conviction for which he was incarcerated, this was a situation that 420 should not have defended.
Some teachers don't want to pay into a union that does such things. Granted, this was under previous, not current, union leadership.
Saturday, June 10, 2006 11:47:00 AM
Give me a break! Making every teacher pay even if they are not members? That is the point...I am not a memeber...I don't have to pay member dues of any sort. This is silly. The Teachers Union just does not want to look messy by themselves...that way all the teachers are on the same side, and I disagree. Sometimes the Union supports issues like the 420 that I am against. Its obvious that our new boss is making serious changes...I suggest those who want to get on board do so...because he does not seem to be holding the train up for no one...even if you did vote no confidence in him. All I know is that his train is not leaving me or my sister who is also a teacher in the SLPS. We are trying to raise the bar in our classrooms this year and offer no more excuses.
Monday, June 12, 2006 11:40:00 AM
to the person who does not want to pay dues - give back your raise, your duty free lunch period, your plan time. These are just a very few things your union has done for you without your help, support, or dues. It's time to pay your fair share!
Monday, June 12, 2006 12:48:00 PM
Give back your raises, Anonymous 6? What a great idea, since a lot of you haven't earned them anyway.
I like Anonymous 3's comments about the union asking for more when it hasn't produced. Because union-backing board member Bill Purdy likes his baseball analogies, here's one: It's like a player batting .197 for a season and making 50 errors and then seeking a huge contract. That player should be cut.
Monday, June 12, 2006 2:23:00 PM
anonymous 7...I hear a lot of bitterness. Have you or your child been let down by a slps teacher? Also, I thought the topic was about employees who benefit from the work of the union and how they should pay their fair share. Where do you get your information on non-performing teachers? I would like to see that. Since you like analagies, go to stltu.org and read "No Dentist Left Behind."
Monday, June 12, 2006 3:26:00 PM
In the previous post, I typed analogy wrong. Sorry!
Monday, June 12, 2006 4:55:00 PM
What do you mean where did that Anonymous get their teacher non- performance information?....the proof is in the pudding! Our students are not meeting the standard! Our students are in need of dedicated, selfless educators who at least 'like' what they do. That is where the information comes from...the students and their various academic records, the districts OVERALL status in public education, the many many low test scores, etc etc. And, unless it becomes regulated that ALL teachers in the SLPS are immediately part of the Union...you can't make non-members pay. I'm with the blogger using the baseball analogy...poor performance...no raise, no job, no credibility.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006 1:51:00 PM
That does make sense at the end of the day.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006 1:52:00 PM
To give me a break! Did you at least check out "No Dentist Left Behind" at stltu.org? Also, it is not true that all slps schools are not meeting the standards. You should also look at DESE(Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) under assessment and st. louis city schools. There are more gains than shortfalls. By the way, I'm glad you're not in charge or there wouldn't be one teacher left. Where my child attends, the teachers are selfless and adore what they do for children. What teachers are you referring to that don't like what they do? I challenge you to go teach for a year, in an urban setting, with 25-30 students and see how your test scores look. Then get about 1500 of your friends and have them join you. Wahlah, the answer to all of our public education problems.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006 5:03:00 PM
It's spelled "Viola!"
You must have gotten your education from St. Louis Public Schools.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006 11:03:00 AM
It's not spelled in English at all, because it is Singapore's slang. I did get my education from SLPS and am proud of it. Shame on you for insulting where I received my education. Even if it was under my control,(I was a child under my parent's guidance), I would get my education there again.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006 11:47:00 AM
I just joined the blog...but all I hear are excuses too from the teachers union. It is true that there are good teachers in the SLPS...but unfortunately the overall student performance must be challenged in order to get better. That means teachers that are not doing what needs to be done perhaps are not cut out for this "urban setting, with 25-30 students" as the one blogger called it. Those teachers DO need to leave and the SLPS can at least then move forward with teachers that WANT to be there and who ARE going to make a difference.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006 11:57:00 AM
I just read this blog. What a hoot! Even though it has absolutely nothing to do with the topic of this blog, the anonymous who said, "It's spelled Viola," is the one who ought to check where they got their education. A viola is an instrument. The blogger should insult correctly. It is voila' with the stress on the a. Couldn't let that one pass!
Wednesday, June 14, 2006 12:49:00 PM
I agree with anonymous said... that starts with
“Again it amazes me how the Teachers in the SLPS can speak so loudly about everything BUT the students and their education…” I have only been in this district a short time but have confirmed my beliefs about how unions run businesses in the ground or out of the country. I am a union member but seriously considering following the paths of many of the veteran teachers who left the union because they had did nothing for them that they were not able to do for themselves. Let us discuss some their issues.
1.The union claims the administration does not give the teachers any respect. For this teacher I am well respected among parents (even among the parents of student who I do not have), teachers who I have collaborated and share lessons with, and administration because I have challenge the students to work and think beyond what they think they can do. I follow and enforce the policies of the state and the district whether I agree with them or not. That is my job. If I didn’t do that I would be fired (any other job except the one hear in the St. Louis Public Schools). My Dad always said if you want respect you have to earn it.
2. Accountability. The Union wants administration to be accountable but what about the Union being accountable for its own members. The Union believes that seniority makes you a better teacher. I do agree with the point about experience does help make your job easier. However, there are to many teachers in this district who are protected by the union who have taught one lesson the same way for thirty years. Being a good teacher is practicing what you preach. Evaluate what you have done how can you change your lesson to involve the student instead of lecturing? Are you following the district and state standards (should at least be following the state standards)? I have been told by a reliable source that these same union members who want more members and respect didn’t follow the Kaplan curriculum during the last school year. That shows good leadership. If we wish to be like the surrounding districts we need to do a better job of policing ourselves. I have two children in a neighboring district and in the four years they have been in school I have seen ten teachers “let go” for either not following the district plan or having to many problems in the classroom. It shouldn’t take two years to remove a bad teacher. If this were any other school district, not to mention a business, the employee would be removed being a union member or not.
3. Membership. If an organization wants new members it usually has something good to offer. Why would Bryon Clemens make a motion to the board to impose charging a fee for all teachers to be part of the union? Is it because he cannot get the members any other way? Is it his thinking that if all of the teachers were members the union would have more power? Let us take a look at why many teachers have left the union. Again, let us look at accountability. You know how hard it is to teach next to a teacher that should not be teaching? I know many of you do. What is the union doing in providing in professional development. From the few meetings I attended advertising one thing end up in complaining about the administration and how they do not know what they are doing (ok maybe administration doesn’t know everything). Either that union members were too worried about whether they were going to get paid or not. When I decided to become a teacher in this district my cooperating teacher strongly encouraged me to join the union. If for anything else the legal protection and the fair representation when I went up a “experience” teacher stating the only reason that teacher is still teaching is because he/she is part of the union.
4. Pay schedule. I work hard for the money that I receive as well as all of the good teachers in this district. During the last little strike exercise the district knew what we were going to get paid long before the schedules came out. Granted the district was trying to see if they could get but with less. But what if this district does goes bankrupt? What will the union do then? Look at what happened to the textile industry, those so-called jobs that only Latinos will do, not to mention “Grandpas?” What would many of the teachers do if administration used a merit pay schedule? Guess what that time is coming. I personally know of five other school districts who have developed a pay schedule but the teacher will get the raise based on how well they did their job. I know that if a teacher receives a bad evaluation in this district they are suppose to stay at the same pay rate. Again why is it this district moves problems around instead of correcting or removing the problem?
So tell why I really want to part of this union that represents the teachers who need the most protection. If you want more members show us why. Businesses are in business to make money while producing a product. If they do not get what they need from their workers they will look for new ones. Or the business may close up and move somewhere else. We taught the Japanese how to rebuild after the WWII but have you ever noticed how many unions are in their firms and factories. We can learn from the Japanese about how management and workers are able to work together. Another example here from America is Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream. I do agree that we need to work WITH administrators not against them. But which side is going to come to the table first instead of complaining they are not doing their jobs (you can figure out who they are).
Thursday, June 15, 2006 10:13:00 AM
Right on...blogger!!! I agree completely!
Thursday, June 15, 2006 10:51:00 AM
Its truly refreshing to finally see a teacher that is open, honest and holding his/herself accountable for the state of the union and the SLPS as a whole. I do hope you maintain your job for the upcoming school year. We need more like you.
Thursday, June 15, 2006 10:53:00 AM
This is a bad move on Local 420's part. The new board majority is doing good work, and do not need to deal with this bad proposal.
The move makes it seem that Local 420 is making Downs and Jones "pay" for union support by putting them on the spot with this power-grab.
Ultimately, this move could undermine the teacher's union's support within SLPS, which is tenuous already. I'd hate to see that happen, because the union can be an effective advocate for teachers and students when it chooses to be.
A lot of good teachers are not members of Local 420 for various philosophical and political reasons. The union should respect their decision.
Friday, June 16, 2006 10:45:00 AM
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