[lbo-talk] a teacher in trouble and the union

Nathan Newman nathanne at nathannewman.org
Fri Mar 3 20:47:17 PST 2006


----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Henwood" <dhenwood at panix.com>

MICHAEL YATES wrote:
>But it amazed me that the union would dismiss this by saying Bennish
>is not a member. So what?

-One of Fitch's laws of American unionism: they don't care about the -workers, they care about dues. He doesn't pay dues. Fuck him.

What know-nothing nonesense. A guy goes out of his way to distance himself from the union and refuse to pay dues, which are a form of collective legal insurance for employment disputes. And all the other teachers who pay their dues are supposed to chip in for the legal fees for a guy who chose to free ride on their dues?

If the guy had no legal options, that would be one thing, but the guy has apparently been able to hire a high powered lawyer, so why should the teachers union represent him? http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/7643269/detail.html

Yes, unions are about dues and solidarity and opposition to those who free ride on the efforts of others. And that's a good thing.

Nathan Newman



More information about the lbo-talk mailing list