But if the guy has a lawyer, spending scarce funds on the issue, especially in states like Coloado where no teacher has to join the union, would create a massive burden on the small number of dues paying members to shoulder. In Colorado, the rightwing Governor Bill Owen used an executive order to deny unions the ability to collect dues through payroll deductions and they have been scrambling to keep membership up -- they've lost fifty to seventy percent of union membership in the last couple of years. Which staff jobs and services to members should they cut now to pay for a lawyer for a non-member, who already apparently has a lawyer? And if non-members get such lawyers, why should anyone even think about paying dues? Why not just free ride since all services are apparently available?
The statewide Colorado Education Association has a total of six lawyers on staff; a case like this would eat up a large chunk of their time. Should they really drop everything else they are doing, which may involve a lot of less media worthy cases and issues but which often matter a lot for the members effected?
Maybe a case could be made for defending this guy with those limited staff, but people seem all too ready to assume that they know how best to spend the limited funds available. Yes, principled behavior is good, but folks act as if all acts have no costs and that media-worthy cases are so much more valuable than other work that is being done.
Colorado is a tough state, with a rightwing Governor and a whole range of wedge issues being thrown specifically at the teachers union, including the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) and a new one called the 65% solution -- a lovely financial straightjacket on schools which is designed to pit in-class teachers against teaching support employees like librarians. CEA is also handling a range of grievances related in places like Jefferson County where they have formal contracts. Why are all those issues less important than this one?
Nathan Newman
----- Original Message ----- From: "MICHAEL YATES" <mikedjyates at msn.com>
Dear Nathan,
I don't know if Bennish is a union member or not. I am just reporting what the NEA affiliate said. But in any event there is a lot more at stake here than a free-rider thing. Bennish is a very young man. We don't know his view of the teachers' union or any unions (or even if the union has bargaining rights and a contract) The union should support him and oppose what is going on here, irrespective of anything else. Show everyone what a good union does. I'll bet Bennish would join then. Your black and white view here is really stupid. I've known lots of anti-union folks who have come around to support the union. After they and trouble or after they saw what a union could do. Just like in the classroom, patient organizing and principled behavior sometimes win the day.
Let me add that the teachers' unions don't have such good records on trying to expand the civil rights of teachers and certainly not on fighting for the civil rights of students.
Yes, Bennish has a lawyer. But what does this have to do with anything? The union needs to support him. It can do this without providing a lawyer for him. Though I don't see why it couldn't offer one.
And Nathan, I hope you are going to call the school board or at least send an email.
Michael Yates
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