California Teachers Association Takes Positions Unrelated To Education
October 7th, 2008
The Issue: The California Teachers Association, the California Labor Union the advocates for the K-12 teachers in the state has released their positions on the California Propositions on the November ballot. While they did not take a position on all of the propositions, they took positions on a few that seem unrelated to the California Education System.
The California Teachers Association (or the CTA) held the meeting of their State Council this weekend (October 3-5, 2008). The State Council is the policy-making body of the organization. At their meeting they took positions on several of the propositions on the November Election ballot including the following:
- Proposition 3: Children’s Hospital Bond Act- Support
- Proposition 4: Parental Notification for Abortions- Oppose
- Proposition 6: Public Safety Funding- Oppose
- Proposition 8: Define Marriage as between Men and Women- Oppose
- Proposition 9: Criminal Justice System. Victim’s Rights- Oppose
Observations:
The first thing you might notice is that not a single one of these propositions has anything to do with education. One might make a good argument that some of these measures will mandate spending that effectively takes away available money that could be used for education. Such is the case with their opposition to proposition 6.
Propositions 8 and 9 however, are budget neutral, meaning that they have no fiscal impact on the state or local municipalitites (according the the Legislative Analyst’s Office). This means that the CTA encourages group think on behalf of the K-12 teachers regarding the so-called “moral issues”. Gay Marriage and Victim’s Rights have no impact whatsoever on education.
The real surprise is that the Union took no position on California’s Proposition 11 regarding Redistricting. The CTA had opposed the last redistricting propostion proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger back in 2005. It is surprising that the CTA would ever oppose redistricting because having more competitive elections would require more reliance on Special Interest money and gove the Union more influence. Perhaps with the silence of the CTA proposition has a chance of passing. Let’s hope.
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I am absolutely DISGUSTED that the CTA opposes Propositions 4, 6, 8 and 9. Why the heck they would even publicize opinions as to Propositions 4, 8 and 9 is quite interesting. If I were a teacher and a member of the CTA, I would be thoroughly furious.
Why this web site do not have other languages support?
I have always been supportive of raising funds for teachers and raising salaries. When teachers in our area asked parents to rally behind them for more money, we did of course, thinking it would go to bettering the schools and paying teachers, not for pushing votes for a proposition about marriage. Makes one think twice on supporting teachers. I hate feeling this way but it just seems wrong for them to do this. I feel deceived and can’t help but wonder if I am the only one. I’d love to here more opinions.
This makes me wonder who is running the CTA. Why they would use compulsory dues to oppose Prop 8 when i’m sure many or possibly most of California’s teachers support It is beyond comprehension. It makes one suspect their motivation . Are they for teachers or an agenda?
I’m a teacher in California and very disgusted with being associated with CTA. We are in a district that has made it manditory for teacher to be part of the union. Therefore, against my will, they take almost $900 a year out of my pay check. However, there is a way to opt out of the union that very few teachers are aware of. It’s called becoming a fee payer. Here’s the information: http://www.nrtw.org/rctunctaa.htm
If you are teachers that do not what your money going towards promoting the homosexual agenda, abortions through Planned Parenthood and everyother liberal cause, get out and take your money away from CTA and NEA.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one wondering why the Teacher’s Union would be advocating Prop 8. I’ve asked friends and co-worker’s why this is, and they didn’t have an answer. More surprisingly, it never came to their mind. This is completely baffling and I now have a completely different mind set in terms of supporting the teacher’s now also. Of course, it’s not all the teacher’s but they should speak out if they are not in agreement instead of all of us reading blogs and searching out websites for answers.
I am a teacher in California also. I am not proud to be associated with CTA either. I am not happy about any of my union dues being spent on these props. I want my money back and I will be looking into opting out of the union. This has been the hot topic in the teacher’s lounge at my school and I have yet to hear of a teacher at my site that is proud to be associated with the CTA at this point. Please do not lose faith in your children’s teacher’s. If the majority of teachers at my site are unhappy with CTAs current choices – I am confident that most teachers feel the same.
I recently joined the teachers’ union at my community college. Right afterward, I received propaganda from the union telling me I needed to vote “No” on Prop 8 & 4. These are moral issues, not labor issues. I’m trying to find out how to get out of the union now because my dues are being used for purposes to which I never agreed. I do not think a labor union should be supporting secret abortions and homosexual marriages. Unions are supposed to fight for labor rights, not advocate immorality.
I too am FED UP with my dues (in total over $1000 per year) being taken and spent on so many non-educator related issues, especially supporting policies that I disagree with. What stupefies me the most is that CTA spent over $1 MILLION of hard working teachers money to support deceitful propaganda. I have tried to get out of the union. I have thus far been unsuccessful. However, if you are a CTA member. go online at CTA.org and make sure you get your socalled “voluntary” contribution refunded. Also. contact your local chapter and in writing request that NONE of your dues be used for political action. If anyone knows how to get out of CTA, let us know. I think that is the only way that unions will begin to understand that taking positions on issues that are irrelevant to one’s job security and using our money to benefit the wants of a few needs to stop.
Thanks Dave for the website you posted. I will definitely try it out and spread the word about it. Many of my colleagues are fed up with CTA.
The CTA came down hard on a student this week who wrote a letter to the CTA board critical of their donation against proposition 8. CTA board member Jim Rogers wrote back some eye popping comments to the girl that are being spread on the web like wildfire.
http://beetlebabee.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/cta-student-smack-down/