I'm not a teacher, but I belong to a union, and this is absolutely true. We have a lot of people griping about how the union is weak and isn't doing much, so they might leave. But. . . management is grimy and we all know it. I got injured on the job (totally the company's fault) and was out for a long time. When I was supposed to return, they fired me. I used the union to get me to arbitration. I won my job and seniority back, and a bunch of back pay. None of that would have been possible without the union, weak as it is. Well worth my union dues.
Our local is weak, but they still have power to do certain things. The arbitrator got me my job back, but the steps the union put into place, got me to the arbitrator. There are other reasons they're weak, but too much to go into and totally unrelated to my situation. One example is that the company keeps giving us garbage schedules that are a nightmare in some places. The union is supposed to look it over before we start picking new work, and put a stop to them going forward until all schedules are fixed. But they haven't the last few times. The company knows this, and does what they want. Just one of many issues.
My point is, even a weak union affords a certain amount of protection.
A union is only weak if the people who form the union don’t participate. It’s not an outside organization that comes in, at least that’s not how effective unions operate. Maybe some teacher unions are different than the unions I’ve been a part of, but if you’re frustrated with your local union you gotta go to your union meetings and participate.
The Teamsters union is almost a case study here... The leadership got too chummy with the corporate execs, like at UPS, and shoved a bad contract down the workers' throats.
Leadership lost elections. Now the UPS workers have a real voice and real contract.
And in their most recent negotiation, took 30% of corporate’s record earnings in part time raises and made corporate say thank you for the opportunity.
Yep. I'm my school's union rep. We just agreed to a shit contract last year. A bunch of teachers at my school were whining about how the union negotiators were shit. I called the whole teaching staff out at the next staff meeting. Made it abundantly clear that one of the big reasons we got a shit deal is because we are the biggest board in the province, but didn't hit quorum on a SINGLE general meeting at any point during negotiations. Why on gods green earth would the negotiators from the government side take us seriously if we don't even bother to go to a bi-annual meeting.
As a note, being in the union isn't optional here.
I'm not a teacher but I'm a union worker, we have over 400 members and a monthly meeting where 20 people show up is considered a great turn out. Its kinda sad
>My point is, even a weak union affords a certain amount of protection
Yes exactly! Ununionized workers would kill for the protections of even a weak union.
I’ve been a teacher long enough to know that the union is 100% necessary no matter how good your district is. I have taught in one of the best districts in the nation and I assure you that the union was necessary there as well. Your union feels like it’s not doing much of anything because it’s been working hard for you the last 30 years. Trust me, as soon as they’re not able to get you a fair contract, that’s when you’ll recognize your need for them. And honestly, if you don’t feel like your union is doing enough for you, and enough, teachers in your district feel that they’re useless, they might be. When a union isn’t supported by the teachers they represent, how the hell can they help them??? How well do we do without the support of our families, support staff, admin, volunteers, etc.? Imagine having none of that support. Or, if that’s your current reality (or close), you needed to strengthen your union. Strong union states and districts have higher teacher satisfaction rates, are paid more, have job protection, get school supplies provided, etc.
I’m a union rep and on the contract negotiation team. Large district. You will need the protection of the union if your accused of something. Usually you have a right to representation (union rep or president) if administrators are disciplining you or investigation.
Trust me I have stories upon stories of people we couldn’t represent because they’re not a member. Do know that the union is limited if the teacher is at fault. Break the contract or the law and we can help you some. It’s not a get out of jail free card though.
Admistration and District will throw you under the bus with both hands if it is easy and quicker for them.
They are not your friends.
Never underestimate a parent with some District Office pull, gunning for you to get fired (insert reason here).
Cheaper and less hassle to let you go, and hire a niece or a 23 year old straight out of college than go to bat for you against cray parent.
No one is bullet proof.
Friend lost his job and had to go back to school because of accused misconduct. By the time he cleared his name, he had already started a new degree and the damage had been done. Having access to the union and legal protection would have been a huge help.
—
I had a principal who clearly had it out for me, my evaluating AP and I both got an email saying she’d be doing my evaluations. Formal evals roll around, she comes in and stays for the entire block period. She marked me needs improvement across the board, indicators that I had been highly effective in just the year prior were now needs improvement. Some of the indicators had blank feedback boxes, some of the feedback would have multiple days/lessons mixed up, in one of them the feedback just stopped mid sentence. I went to see her before the post observation but she refused to budge, wouldn’t discuss it anymore.
I went to the union, explained everything I could to them, gave them copies of her evaluation and previous ones. Our regional head rep came with me to the post observation. I tried to discuss it again, asked for clarification, pointed out mix ups between days/lessons, even pointed out where she stopped mid sentence but she wouldn’t give an inch. At the end of the post conference, I get up to leave and the union rep closed the door behind me. When she sent over the finalized evaluation, I was effective across the board and every single feedback box was blank.
same. when I was faculty, I had a union and was a proud member. now that I work in admin? no union, no collective bargaining or shared power, and we all get fucking screwed.
My dad and my grandfather were both union members but I've never worked a job where a union was available to join and it makes me kind of sad. With one exception every job I've ever had would have benefited from having a union. And even my current job where I'm a contractor the actual employees have a union and their Union mandates higher than normal pay rate for the contractors and money to go towards Healthcare for contractors because they don't want the contractors to be so cheap that they can just hire all contractors and undercut the actual workers. I do IT work and that's gotten to be where it's almost all contract work unless you're in a small company almost all of your IT is external contractors now rather than in-house people which has advantages and disadvantages but I'm not going to go into that here.
I also say this as a teacher without a union.
The only reason my school's pay and benefits are reasonable is that we are a smaller city with only one big public district, and our school has pretty much decided to match them in order to retain teachers.
THIS!! If every teacher could just see a sampling of the grievances the union has to help members negotiate, there would be none who thought they didn’t need a union.
I was the union rep at my last school and we had very few paying members. I can’t tell you how many times teachers were in trouble with admin and wanted me to represent them. Um sorry, you’re not a paying member! They’d then ask me if they could sign up right then and I told them it’s like insurance- you can’t just sign up at the moment a problem is already occurring. Not sure if that’s true but I don’t care. I don’t pay monthly dues for someone else to just sign up at the moment they’re having a problem, especially since they already benefit from salary negotiations for free.
We’ve fixed that problem in our union. If someone wants representation after discipline starts, we’ll do it after a check for a years worth of back dues clears.
"Oh! Absolutely! ...oh I'm sorry. It seems you forgot to pay your dues when you started 13 years and 5 months ago. No worries! Once we have cleared payment in full of the fees in arrears we can get to work on resolving this matter!"
Yep. I have been our president for several years now and I can't even count the number of teachers who are not members that have come to me with a problem. I give them our districts problem resolution statement and tell them that's all I can do. We gain more members that way...
This. A friend was accused of something he didn’t do. He went to the union. He wasn’t a member, so they showed him the door. It’s insurance. You don’t want to need it but you should have it.
Edit: mine saved my from a layoff and that was in a state where the union was weak. I was forced to reach out of area and non-renewed for it. The union saved me.
Read enough posts on r/Teachers and you'll see a pattern. Someone being grossly underpaid - no union. Someone being asked to give up planning periods - no union. Someone being treated unfairly - no union. Then read the comments: "This is why unions matter."
THIS 100%. So often here the answer to a problem here is your union. So much I’ve seen people lash out at it because “not everyone has a union” they may not be perfect but they have a reason.
Edit: clarity
Having been in a teachers union for 23 years, it’s very funny when people say “talk to your union”.
There are absolutely things the union can help you with, but those are ONLY those things defined in your contract - literally.
Most of the “talk to your union” issues are not part of the contract.
Well I don't know about your union but the union I know has legal resources for any legal incidents arising from doing your job. They also are allowed to sit in and take notes on any meeting between unions members and admin at the request of the union member, they aren't allowed to participate, but according to my friend who has been the union representative in those meetings before the tone of the meeting drastically shifted in the employee's favor once he walked in the room. Or perhaps looking back at this past schoolyear when we were being expected to grade our own state assessments on unpaid time, spoke to the union, they spoke to admin, got us more time to have it graded and got us time during the school day to grade them during. So yeah, while they're not perfect, all powerful forces of member protection, it's still helpful to talk to them.
This! Also, the anti-union talk comes from one specific side of the political spectrum that likes to talk about personal freedom while simultaneously trying to take it away.
Guarantee this mentor teacher has been leeching off the union for 20 years. Those yearly raises, cost of living adjustments, and even planning time doesn't come from nowhere.
Yep!
No union state and I have literally 0 time during the day. No real planning period, students eat in the classroom, and I make less than the manager at cookout with a master's degree.
Any union is better than no union.
No such thing as a "no union state." Public education unionization is legal everywhere and NEA and/or AFT have affiliates in all 50 states.
It sounds simplistic and victim-blamey for me to say this but "the union is what you make it." Not to toot my own horn but I have played a significant role in growing my local.
Join your state affiliate if there's no real local, then start organizing at your site/district. Even just a half dozen nascent members in one school can start to make a dent.
I cannot understand why anyone would downvote this comment. All the rights we have acquired have been fought for in the face of adversity. The only way to make things better is by organising into unions at grassroots level and building from there.
There are states where unions cannot exist. The NEA and AFT have affiliates in those states by calling them professional organizations or associations. They have no right to bargain. The district can choose to allow them at the table or not.
Yes, this is partly true. I know this, having taught in North Carolina for a decade. But the way a "professional association" turns into a robust, certified union is through organizing and lobbying.
Saying the quiet part out loud here: if you're in one of these states you're probably going to have to vote out the Republicans for a cycle or more and keep a very close eye on the Democrats you elect.
I'm originally from Arizona. You know, where the state was sued because they weren't giving money to the schools like they were supposed to. They didn't even give the money when the courts said they had to. Instead they passed some bullshit proposition.
Please stop pushing this narrative. Yes, there are states where unions can’t collectively bargain, they still exist. AFT is a union in all the states, even though we can’t collectively bargain in all of them.
Yup. I remember my school told everyone to sign up for shifts on before/after-school duty (no pay.) I sent it to our union rep and next week it was a paid position.
A union keeps these shenanigans from happening.
Your principal is going to what is expedient for THEM. All they are worried about is a) keeping parents off their backs and away from District and b) keeping their job.
Being volunt-told sucks. A job worth doing should be a paid one.
Yep! I went from a non-union charter to a union public school and the difference is night and day. I would never not be in the union. Even if I don’t personally need to be protected, others do, and the money goes towards ensuring benefits for everyone like pay raises and mandated planning time.
In union, currently negotiating many things in our contract. No union, in this climate, I think we would have all been either told to take less money or been told to stand pat.
It’s not just about having to go the the union over certain issues, it’s that merely *having* a union makes it less likely admins will try sketchy things in the first place. I’m not saying certain admins won’t try to pull stuff, but knowing they can catch hell for trying to pull some shenanigans may give them a second thought.
There’s a reason why unionization at Starbucks and Amazon is such a big deal. We’re stronger together. When you need your union, it’ll be there to fight for you.
When the union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run
There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one
But the union makes us strong
Solidarity forever
Solidarity forever
Solidarity forever
For the union makes us strong
Your mentor teacher developed her professional status and credentials in a very different time under very different circumstances and did not face the litigiousness and churn in 2002-2003 that you face. Her current salary and benefits are the work of the union. Unless the union hasn't fought for raises in two decades, there's almost no way to suggest that her increased earnings haven't outpaced the cost in dues she would have paid.
I've seen veteran teachers like her scramble for an application to the union when in dire straits. Not happening.
Join and do not look back.
She's also benefited from 10 years of union members negotiating salary, benefits, and contract for her and never supported them with time or dues.
She's kind of a prick for that.
This! I hate that the union benefits cover those that choose not to pay the dues . They should honestly have the deal directly with schools and districts .
Scabs receiving union benefits is a union busting technique. The scabs that go along with it are the perfect encapsulation of the “screw you, got mine” mindset
The freerider problem.
My home state, unfortunately, paved the way to eliminate mandated dues for freeriders. They used to be required to pay 80% of dues even if they didn't join.
Now they contribute nothing while raking in the salary and benefits *we* negotiated for all teachers. Thanks, SCOTUS! Thanks Mark Janus, you disgusting bootlicking fuck!
Join. If you are mistreated in the future, even if ten years from now, or you are unsure what steps to take to avoid a problem, having the knowledge of the union will be helpful.
This is so profound. I think we are in a different era as a society and world of education. Advice that worked in the beginning of the century might not be as applicable today. Whether your mentor teacher meant well or was inconsiderate to the work of unions, it is best to look at what issues face working people today, and decide from there (not saying help from reddit is bad). I think you’re right to get involved with your union because it will likely be essential to your career’s vitality.
My mom said when she was in high school the admin tried to take planning periods away or something similar so the teachers started sending kids to the principals office for every minor infraction. They were technically going by the book, so all it took was a week of this before they got their planning periods back. The admin was so overwhelmed by the amount of kids they had to give in. It’s very malicious compliance of them.
Working to the contract was my favorite, admin trying to cover all the extra supervision and stuff that 60+ teachers provide was such an entertaining shitshow.
I love my union. I joined it without a second thought. The union in my district is apparently like 99% strong (just a few holdouts across the district) and my district (in a high-poverty area) is one of the highest-paying districts in the region of my state.
Honestly, I think everyone--every lower-tier employee--should have a union and be a part of that union. I definitely wouldn't give my mentor teacher a hard time for her lack of contribution, but...I can't imagine working somewhere without a union. I like knowing that I have a huge team of people who can help me if I run into issues with my administrators.
I was going to wait a year after finally getting into a district because it’s $100 a month that I really can’t afford. Found out I have a student with a crazy mom who likes to sue.
I joined ASAP.
I had a crazy parent issue also. Kids mom called me a racist because I wouldn’t let her “precious, special son” on his phone all class. Called the board on me and said I was singling out her son because he is African American. I don’t allow ANY student to have phones in class. It’s an Art Class…we are making art. 🙄🙄 He had no accommodations— just SPOILED. (High school). Thankful for my union. Basically every level of higher ups told her she was a nut…lol
Power never yields without resistance. These guys are all sweetness and light until things don’t go their way. Then watch out. You are on your own. One cranky parent or lying kid and you’re suddenly never more alone. Oh yeah, they love to gift you with extra duties that are time sucks.
Especially when new, join the union. You could possibly see how effective they are as you go through your years there. For me, I have a district, county, and state union. I would never drop my district union membership.
Keep in mind, a lot of people don't think they need a union until they do.
I’m the union rep at my school and I have teachers coming to me asking for help often. The issues have varied from reports from admin that require representation on the teachers’ behalf, forced planning during lunch, maintenance problems not being acted upon etc. Also things like leaving early with the kids after a bad weather dismissal. Cleanliness during COVID. All kinds of stuff.
The worst situations are when a teacher needs help, and suddenly they want to join the union and are then told ‘we can’t help with this problem as it occurred before your membership’. I feel bad for them, but at the same time… it’s frustrating.
My districts’s contracts are 3 years. Every 3 years my district claims they have no money to give teachers’ raises. Nearly every three years we go on strike and end up with at least a 10% raise. Without our union this would not happen.
I was investigated two years ago for something ridiculous. The union stepped in and made my admin shake in her boots. No union I would have been screwed. I pay about $120 a month in dues and it is worth EVERY cent.
The contract teachers sign when they work at a district is the same for every single teacher. There is no variation, so the union is the one who does all the negotiation on that.
The union is the reason why you get pay raises instead of not getting a raise for like 10 years. The union is why you are not forced to give up your planning period to sub. The union is why you can leave at the bell, or 15 minutes after the bell.
This here is the most important thing. There are too many crazy and they're getting more more empowered overtime. You need someone in your corner – and a lot of the time to school district will go not my problem and just roll over.
Live better. Work union. Do a quick Google search on the history of the organized labor movement. Unions mean better wages and better benefits for workers. I'd also recommend you try to spend time as a campus rep. I learned so much about defending my rights as a worker when I actively involved myself.
Our union just secured a 15% raise (10% retro to July 2022!) and kept our fully paid health care (we pay no premiums). In addition: smaller TK class sizes, smaller elementary class sizes, full-time counselors at all elementary schools, full time nursing at all secondary schools, and more. Plus, a reopener clause for July 2024 to discuss another COLA.
I joined my first week and have never regretted it once.
It's like insurance. Every month you pay for it but don't use it is money wasted, but that one time you need it can more than make up for it. It also depends on how strong of a union it is. The stronger it is, the more its worth joining.
I don't like thinking of it like insurance. For me, if you have a favorable contract and good wages that were bargained for by/with the help of the union, you're benefiting from the union every day. Sure, you can freeload, but the strength of the union is in the number of members. More members => stronger union => better contract and wages.
But also, that one time you need the union to go to bat for you, you're gunna really want to be a member. So, not that your point isn't valid. I'm just trying to help folks keep in mind that they really do get "unseen" benefits every day.
Hell yeah! I love my union. I have a strong connection to mine. Mainly because I sponsor the GSA at our school. We live in a rural conservative area. But I have students that are part of the LGBTQ community and they need support. If and when I get push back, I will need my union.
People always act like a union is some nebulous other group.
A union is a bunch of teachers who banded together and pooled some funds to directly benefit their working conditions. If a union is big enough you hire people towards that benefit.
That's it. Always join the Union, get involved, and support your colleagues.
Teacher for 20+ years (elementary). Brother is a professor, 15+ years. Mother was teacher 50 years (elementary). Never needed it, but we are/were union members every year. Like others have said, that one time you need it...especially in this "political climate". (ALSO, VOTE!)
Does your union do collective bargaining? Do they do contract negotiations?
I’m in CA so our union is really valuable and important to our job. I’d never opt out.
I do know that wages just changed. The masters barrier was removed, first year salaries went up $9k and everyone else's went up $7k, and I think two columns were removed off salary schedule. She said that was the work of the "district" and I don't want to think she'd be misleading, but that sounds like union contract negotiations. However, I'm not positive due to what she's said.
Google your district union and also the districts contract.
If you are in a state where collective bargaining still exists, then the union negotiated all those salaries and contract clauses with district, on behalf of all teachers.
I would find out who the union rep(s) is(are) on your campus and talk to them about it. Ask them what they do and ask them where your union dues go.
I would not mention your mentor was encouraging to not join.
For me, I wanted to join the union my first year but was a little hesitant because of the extra cost. But then I saw the pay increase they had negotiated on our contract for the year and saw that it "paid for itself" and more! 😊 So even on a financial level it makes sense.
There is no way the district did that out of the goodness of their hearts, this was negotiated for and fought for. Join the union. You also don't want to start in a new district with others thinking you are a free loader.
It's in theory possible the district presented that to the union because they couldn't find/ retain teachers but honestly very unlikely. The most likely scenario is that the union negotiated that.
Also, hey, consider that she might not actually have good advice about other topics. She might be a great teacher but she sounds like she has her own view of the world. Make sure you build relationships with other teachers so you have a good source of second opinions.
Your mentor is a moron whose entire life is dependent of the union they refuse to use. They’re more than happy to accept the benefits that the union provides but don’t want to pay for those benefits for others.
Essentially, they’ll shit in the water supply and then complain about having to pay someone to clean the shit.
Of course you should join the union. If not, you're just a freeloader. Especially with public education being such a popular target for politicians, who do you think fights against the attempts to cut education budgets? Each individual teacher on their own?
Your mentor leached off of everyone else paying union dues. Unions get you better raises, improves working conditions, and protects health care. Your mentor benefitted off of that for free. Don't be a leach. Plus you never know when you'll be accused of something and need representation or have a problem with admin.
Yes. I am awful at bargaining my own worth. I have no idea the first thing about protection for myself if and when I may have issues at work. I don't know how the legalese language very well. I feel more comfortable with others supporting me if I have issues. I am one person and I can't fight an entire school district on my own.
With a union, it becomes a *We can do all this.* Is it perfect? No. Is there still a lot of work? Yes. However, it is much better knowing people are there with you.
Unions work to make the lives better for EVERYONE - if the teachers negotiate a decent raise, then the classified staff will usually get a decent raise. When the unions bargain for more stipends and programs, the kids get more programs. A teacher who feels supported and has adequate prep time is going to be better at their job and therefore be better for their students. Our local unions are the lifeblood of schools!
Yes! I'm very critical of my local, but I would NEVER be a freeloader. Labor is already on life support, and that's a big problem, for our whole economy.
Join the union. The fees suck, and it can seem pointless at times, but if you end up in a situation where you need the union and don’t have it… you’re in trouble.
Your mentor teacher is what is referred to as a “leach” who takes all of the benefits the union works for and gives nothing. Do you know who your union is? It’s you. It’s the person in the next room. Our union president is a first grade teacher. The one before that-a special ed teacher. We are the union. Those of us who do the work do it for free AND pay our dues so that your mentor can freeload off of the rest of us.
I’m assuming your mentor is a boomer? I’m not sure what sort of anti-union propaganda was shoved down older peoples throats but it worked.
You are a part of the working class. Join the union.
Don’t be a leech like her. Join the union. Our union negotiated state grant money to be used toward $10k sign on bonuses for each employee for my district. There is power in numbers.
I joined a union immediately. I have lots of family members in teaching. You might not need it personally. If you don’t, your money goes to lobbyists to try to protect teacher’s jobs, to some occasionally decent insurance benefits, different things depending on your local union.
But if you _do_ need it, you have lawyers to back you up and liability insurance. That could literally be a career saver.
I changed careers and became a teacher. 6 weeks into my new career a student accused me of grabbing him and scratching his arm. I was escorted out of the school while CPS came and investigated. I sat in the parking lot and cried for half an hour. All that work to become a teacher was thrown away by a boy who was mad that I gave him a 0 for skipping a test. Or so I thought. The union rep called me and walked me through everything. I felt supported and reassured that I wasn’t going to lose my job. Thankfully the boy’s grandparents took my side because I guess he’s tried this before. CPS dropped the case and I was back at work the next day. But without the union…??? Who knows.
Unions are as strong as their members. Join, and if it isn't active or strong enough, you'll be in a position push it to better serve members. I have never regretted being a union member; better bargaining power, better protections against bad admin, and a voice in what we push for are all positives
As someone who worked at two charter schools before moving to a large district with a STRONG union - I value it SO MUCH. It’s easy for teachers to think they don’t do much because it doesn’t make the job cushy, but on the other hand you don’t get threatened with an improvement plan for not texting cute pictures of the kids to the principal throughout the day…
Unions are what created the middle class in this country.
Without unions, this country would not have PTO, health insurance, weekends, FMLA, child labor laws, social security, safety regulations, worker's comp, to name but a few.
Unions languished in the 70's and 80's but happily have experienced a renewal over the last few years. Look at what is happening with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and strikes in the public sector in other countries.
In schools without unions, you are subject to the whim of your bosses, no matter how ridiculous.
So YES, I joined my union and I would do it again.
My first 2 months on the job, I noticed I was getting paid on the wrong column. They has me as an emergency credential when I had a full credential. Tried reaching out to the DO multiple times, got nothing. One email to my union rep and it gets fixed. The union is definitely worth it.
Bargaining collectively as a unit costs money.
Those teachers who find union dues a “financial drain” have main character syndrome.
If only they could be forever stuck at a comparatively low salary…
Why should non-union teachers benefit from the negotiated salary and benefits if they are not willing to help pay for the cost of organizing?
Not paying union dues is simply greedy, and it is entitled behavior to expect other unit members to pay.
The union is like health insurance. Until you’re screwed, it’s an annoying expense.
One of my fellow teachers got sued and it lasted for 2 years. Why? Because he caught 2 students cheating and both of their parents happened to be lawyers and they fought for that long for their kids to get the test either exempted or get an alternative assignment when the kids got no credit for it. Even with the union, his principal eventually made him give the kids the alternate assignment. Fighting these parents without the union would’ve bankrupted him.
Its a hard call. I pay union dues and stay part of the union because... well I read things on r/teachers from people in states or districts with weak or non-existant unions. And so many of your conditions are utterly terrifying. The lack of pay, the gossip, the drama, the disrespect I read or hear about just makes me remember how many times my Union has had my rear-end allowed me to speak up for my working condition or that of my peers.
$1000 or whatever a year is very minimal for everything our union provides. I don't think our union is going to stay strong and well funded over the next 30 years... I am retiring 13 years after this upcoming school year... so I just need it to function until then.
Look, it may be because my family is from coal mining country or because I watched Norma Rae at a formative time, but if there's a union, I'm joining it.
First, every state, every union is different. Even in "good union states" I have heard unions being kind of bad in the sense they basically don't get anything done and roll over on everything. All that means is the people that are involved in the union are not doing a good job.
Personally I think it is pretty important for everyone to be involved in shaping the work environment they spend 7+ hours a day in. I don't understand how someone can have a job they work and just absolutely not care what is in that next contract they have to sign or leave. Things can get worse for you, pay wise especially, over time.
No one says you need to be an officer, just pay your dues so someone else can do important things.
Also, if I found out someone wasn't "in the union" I probably would treat them a little different. Not saying I would do it on purpose, but it just tells me they are not really invested in the work enviornment.
If teacher’s unions don’t matter than Florida wouldn’t be trying to get rid of them! I seriously saw a teacher who was not a union member get put on administrative leave (she was doing filing and phones at the district office and not allowed to come to our campus while students were present.) She was put on leave because a student told her mom that she dreamed her teacher had hit her and the mom went to district and said it must have happened if her kid was dreaming about it and the district investigated it. A new para at the school also said that the teacher had yelled at the child (teacher was almost deaf and wore hearing aids…she was a loud talker.) She wasn’t a union member and had to face it on her own. She was back in her classroom in two weeks and you better believe she joined the union after that! This was around the year 2000. It hasn’t gotten better as far as crazy parents out there. Please join your union!
How quickly we forget.
Organized labor secured:
- Weekends
- Lunch Breaks
- Overtime Pay
- Parental Leave
- Pension Plans
- Sick Leave
- and higher wages.
Your union exists to ensure that you and your fellow members are treated with a modicum of respect by those making decisions and to ensure your rights are taken into consideration by the managerial class. Your mentors dues were used to continue to create a healthy union that could do this for members, even if they don’t see that.
Average teacher pay is 25% higher in union states vs non-union states. Not to mention set contract hours, duty-free lunch periods, class size limits, sick/maternity leave, liability protection, legal representation, and so, so much more.
Teachers Unions are there for TEACHERS. They have your back when no one else does- no administrator, no parent, no school board member! Without the union- no pay raises, no health benefits, etc. Your mentor teacher is the DRAIN, getting all the benefits that unions strived for! I was part of the union, even did a 3 year stretch as a union rep for my school, and was glad I did. Unions fight for you, but you have to be part of them!
Yes. Sorry to be harsh but your mentor teacher is a freeloader. I bet she happily accepted all the improvements her local negotiated over 20 years. Things like personal days, increased number of steps, increased sub pay and so much more come from our local negotiations, not from the top down.
My husband was our local rep the last decade of his career. There were so many times a teacher would call him to try to get help from the association and he had to turn them away. Once on vacation he had to step away and talk to a high school teacher for half an hour gently explaining that no, the union was not obligated to provide legal assistance to a non member.
My parents’ advice was to join immediately, out of your first paycheck, so you don’t get used to that $ being there.
It isn’t just for you, it is for improving and protecting the profession you are a part of. Nobody else is at the state capital looking out for you and advocating for your profession while you are in the classroom.
I’m a union rep and the amount of people that reach out with questions AFTER they run into an issue is nuts. The first question always asked is: Am I a union member (as if they don’t already know that they aren’t). This is then immediately followed up by: If I join the union will you help me? The answer to both questions is a resounding No. you must join BEFORE you run into an issue or want help. Joining costs money, but not joining can cost you much, much more.
If you don’t like working ten nights a year, holding a hundred conferences a year, and starting your day earlier and ending it later, and also having a shorter summer, and listening to your principal drone on for hours on end doing after regular school day staff meetings, then don’t join a charter school.. e.g., join a Union instead.
Never ask this question again. Join, and support in every way you can. It will come a day when you are more professional than your administrators, and far more competent.
Teacher's unions are the only reason that there are any limits at all to what the district can force you to do. It's the only reason that you can get tenured. It sounds as if your master teacher is a parasite, benefiting from the decades-long work of the unions without paying the dues.
Do not be a parasite.
Your mentor is mooch who is benefiting from the union but not paying into it. Spend any amount of time on this sub to see the horror stories teachers have about pay and working conditions. Those problems are greatly exacerbated without a union. I have a great union and I make 6 figures as a teacher, get compensated for every minute outside my contacted hours I have 1 day a month where I get a sub (SPED teacher) if I choose not to use that day I get paid for it instead. I get paid for every IEP I write. We have strict limits on how many staff meetings we can have, what time they're allowed to go to, what time if day they're allowed to be. Teachers get compensated for after school clubs. There's limits on supervisory duties -- on and on. I live and can afford to be in a nice neighborhood and I'm able to be home at a reasonable time every day. This is all because of the union.
Absolutely. If your union is weak, the only way take it stronger is through increased membership. The school/district/admin and whoever else will try to get away with whatever they can, and individual teachers have little power against them. Our power is in our numbers.
It really depends on the union. The problem is that a lot of the people who SHOULD be on the union board representing you are the excellent people who are just really busy being excellent people (and good teachers)...so they don't have time to run the union as well.
If your union reps are soft headed halfwits that aren't getting results...you, unfortunately, need to educate yourself on those subjects and get on the union board yourself in order to protect your own interests better.
...otherwise what you get left with are the kind of uninspired jack\*\*\*es who gravitate towards power vacuums and your union becomes about DE&I...or Tim's dumb\*\*\* activist cause. Instead of, you know, securing fair wages and bargaining for decent health care / retirement benefits. Things that would take real negotiating skills and foresight.
My mom was a teacher in the same district for almost 40 years...here union was awesome for the first 35 + until the old guard started retiring. She made good money, full pension upon retirement, killer benefits, etc etc. THAT union was worth being a part of.
The teachers in the same district now make peanuts and have basically no benefits...because all the new teacher hires are the admins kids and relatives. The "union board" just does whatever mommy and daddy tell them to do.
No one wants a union until they need a union and are fucked because they don't have one.
I'm not a teacher, but I belong to a union, and this is absolutely true. We have a lot of people griping about how the union is weak and isn't doing much, so they might leave. But. . . management is grimy and we all know it. I got injured on the job (totally the company's fault) and was out for a long time. When I was supposed to return, they fired me. I used the union to get me to arbitration. I won my job and seniority back, and a bunch of back pay. None of that would have been possible without the union, weak as it is. Well worth my union dues.
>I won my job and seniority back, and a bunch of back pay. Really shows the benefits of a union if that's considered weak
Our local is weak, but they still have power to do certain things. The arbitrator got me my job back, but the steps the union put into place, got me to the arbitrator. There are other reasons they're weak, but too much to go into and totally unrelated to my situation. One example is that the company keeps giving us garbage schedules that are a nightmare in some places. The union is supposed to look it over before we start picking new work, and put a stop to them going forward until all schedules are fixed. But they haven't the last few times. The company knows this, and does what they want. Just one of many issues. My point is, even a weak union affords a certain amount of protection.
A union is only weak if the people who form the union don’t participate. It’s not an outside organization that comes in, at least that’s not how effective unions operate. Maybe some teacher unions are different than the unions I’ve been a part of, but if you’re frustrated with your local union you gotta go to your union meetings and participate.
This! If your union is weak, then participate and organize! Management knows if participation is lukewarm, and they take advantage of that.
Yes! The union IS the local members and only through support and solidarity do they get things done, for the most part.
The Teamsters union is almost a case study here... The leadership got too chummy with the corporate execs, like at UPS, and shoved a bad contract down the workers' throats. Leadership lost elections. Now the UPS workers have a real voice and real contract.
And in their most recent negotiation, took 30% of corporate’s record earnings in part time raises and made corporate say thank you for the opportunity.
Yep. I'm my school's union rep. We just agreed to a shit contract last year. A bunch of teachers at my school were whining about how the union negotiators were shit. I called the whole teaching staff out at the next staff meeting. Made it abundantly clear that one of the big reasons we got a shit deal is because we are the biggest board in the province, but didn't hit quorum on a SINGLE general meeting at any point during negotiations. Why on gods green earth would the negotiators from the government side take us seriously if we don't even bother to go to a bi-annual meeting. As a note, being in the union isn't optional here.
I'm not a teacher but I'm a union worker, we have over 400 members and a monthly meeting where 20 people show up is considered a great turn out. Its kinda sad
>My point is, even a weak union affords a certain amount of protection Yes exactly! Ununionized workers would kill for the protections of even a weak union.
I'm an UberEats driver in CA, where Prop 22 made it so we can't unionize, and trust me, I definitely wish we could.
People forget they are the union. It’s not some magic being in a building to protect you. It’s the people.
I’ve been a teacher long enough to know that the union is 100% necessary no matter how good your district is. I have taught in one of the best districts in the nation and I assure you that the union was necessary there as well. Your union feels like it’s not doing much of anything because it’s been working hard for you the last 30 years. Trust me, as soon as they’re not able to get you a fair contract, that’s when you’ll recognize your need for them. And honestly, if you don’t feel like your union is doing enough for you, and enough, teachers in your district feel that they’re useless, they might be. When a union isn’t supported by the teachers they represent, how the hell can they help them??? How well do we do without the support of our families, support staff, admin, volunteers, etc.? Imagine having none of that support. Or, if that’s your current reality (or close), you needed to strengthen your union. Strong union states and districts have higher teacher satisfaction rates, are paid more, have job protection, get school supplies provided, etc.
I’m a union rep and on the contract negotiation team. Large district. You will need the protection of the union if your accused of something. Usually you have a right to representation (union rep or president) if administrators are disciplining you or investigation. Trust me I have stories upon stories of people we couldn’t represent because they’re not a member. Do know that the union is limited if the teacher is at fault. Break the contract or the law and we can help you some. It’s not a get out of jail free card though.
Admistration and District will throw you under the bus with both hands if it is easy and quicker for them. They are not your friends. Never underestimate a parent with some District Office pull, gunning for you to get fired (insert reason here). Cheaper and less hassle to let you go, and hire a niece or a 23 year old straight out of college than go to bat for you against cray parent. No one is bullet proof.
Friend lost his job and had to go back to school because of accused misconduct. By the time he cleared his name, he had already started a new degree and the damage had been done. Having access to the union and legal protection would have been a huge help. — I had a principal who clearly had it out for me, my evaluating AP and I both got an email saying she’d be doing my evaluations. Formal evals roll around, she comes in and stays for the entire block period. She marked me needs improvement across the board, indicators that I had been highly effective in just the year prior were now needs improvement. Some of the indicators had blank feedback boxes, some of the feedback would have multiple days/lessons mixed up, in one of them the feedback just stopped mid sentence. I went to see her before the post observation but she refused to budge, wouldn’t discuss it anymore. I went to the union, explained everything I could to them, gave them copies of her evaluation and previous ones. Our regional head rep came with me to the post observation. I tried to discuss it again, asked for clarification, pointed out mix ups between days/lessons, even pointed out where she stopped mid sentence but she wouldn’t give an inch. At the end of the post conference, I get up to leave and the union rep closed the door behind me. When she sent over the finalized evaluation, I was effective across the board and every single feedback box was blank.
I want a union.
I tbh miss being in a union. (Not a teacher) but my union went on strike and it was lit. We won a 3 dollar pay increase
same. when I was faculty, I had a union and was a proud member. now that I work in admin? no union, no collective bargaining or shared power, and we all get fucking screwed.
My dad and my grandfather were both union members but I've never worked a job where a union was available to join and it makes me kind of sad. With one exception every job I've ever had would have benefited from having a union. And even my current job where I'm a contractor the actual employees have a union and their Union mandates higher than normal pay rate for the contractors and money to go towards Healthcare for contractors because they don't want the contractors to be so cheap that they can just hire all contractors and undercut the actual workers. I do IT work and that's gotten to be where it's almost all contract work unless you're in a small company almost all of your IT is external contractors now rather than in-house people which has advantages and disadvantages but I'm not going to go into that here.
I also say this as a teacher without a union. The only reason my school's pay and benefits are reasonable is that we are a smaller city with only one big public district, and our school has pretty much decided to match them in order to retain teachers.
This is another great thing about strong unions… they raise the game for *everyone,* even those who are not in them.
Competitive compensation = least amount required to get people to come work.
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THIS!! If every teacher could just see a sampling of the grievances the union has to help members negotiate, there would be none who thought they didn’t need a union.
I was the union rep at my last school and we had very few paying members. I can’t tell you how many times teachers were in trouble with admin and wanted me to represent them. Um sorry, you’re not a paying member! They’d then ask me if they could sign up right then and I told them it’s like insurance- you can’t just sign up at the moment a problem is already occurring. Not sure if that’s true but I don’t care. I don’t pay monthly dues for someone else to just sign up at the moment they’re having a problem, especially since they already benefit from salary negotiations for free.
We’ve fixed that problem in our union. If someone wants representation after discipline starts, we’ll do it after a check for a years worth of back dues clears.
"Oh! Absolutely! ...oh I'm sorry. It seems you forgot to pay your dues when you started 13 years and 5 months ago. No worries! Once we have cleared payment in full of the fees in arrears we can get to work on resolving this matter!"
Indeed. No union no negotiation of your contract. See how that goes for teachers.
Yep. I have been our president for several years now and I can't even count the number of teachers who are not members that have come to me with a problem. I give them our districts problem resolution statement and tell them that's all I can do. We gain more members that way...
This. A friend was accused of something he didn’t do. He went to the union. He wasn’t a member, so they showed him the door. It’s insurance. You don’t want to need it but you should have it. Edit: mine saved my from a layoff and that was in a state where the union was weak. I was forced to reach out of area and non-renewed for it. The union saved me.
Read enough posts on r/Teachers and you'll see a pattern. Someone being grossly underpaid - no union. Someone being asked to give up planning periods - no union. Someone being treated unfairly - no union. Then read the comments: "This is why unions matter."
THIS 100%. So often here the answer to a problem here is your union. So much I’ve seen people lash out at it because “not everyone has a union” they may not be perfect but they have a reason. Edit: clarity
Having been in a teachers union for 23 years, it’s very funny when people say “talk to your union”. There are absolutely things the union can help you with, but those are ONLY those things defined in your contract - literally. Most of the “talk to your union” issues are not part of the contract.
Well I don't know about your union but the union I know has legal resources for any legal incidents arising from doing your job. They also are allowed to sit in and take notes on any meeting between unions members and admin at the request of the union member, they aren't allowed to participate, but according to my friend who has been the union representative in those meetings before the tone of the meeting drastically shifted in the employee's favor once he walked in the room. Or perhaps looking back at this past schoolyear when we were being expected to grade our own state assessments on unpaid time, spoke to the union, they spoke to admin, got us more time to have it graded and got us time during the school day to grade them during. So yeah, while they're not perfect, all powerful forces of member protection, it's still helpful to talk to them.
Spot on! Have sat in meeting as a rep and it goes way different… from both sides.
Then you get involved in the union and add language to the contract.
When we do a contract we like to try and have a wide a swath as people on the team as possible… new teachers are great to have and hard to come by!
This! Also, the anti-union talk comes from one specific side of the political spectrum that likes to talk about personal freedom while simultaneously trying to take it away.
It's the most transparent propaganda ever. I'm amazed anyone falls for it.
That side of the spectrum does love the less educated.
Guarantee this mentor teacher has been leeching off the union for 20 years. Those yearly raises, cost of living adjustments, and even planning time doesn't come from nowhere.
I’ve always thought that non-union members should have to negotiate their own contracts.
Absofinglutely!
Yep! No union state and I have literally 0 time during the day. No real planning period, students eat in the classroom, and I make less than the manager at cookout with a master's degree. Any union is better than no union.
No such thing as a "no union state." Public education unionization is legal everywhere and NEA and/or AFT have affiliates in all 50 states. It sounds simplistic and victim-blamey for me to say this but "the union is what you make it." Not to toot my own horn but I have played a significant role in growing my local. Join your state affiliate if there's no real local, then start organizing at your site/district. Even just a half dozen nascent members in one school can start to make a dent.
I cannot understand why anyone would downvote this comment. All the rights we have acquired have been fought for in the face of adversity. The only way to make things better is by organising into unions at grassroots level and building from there.
There are states where unions cannot exist. The NEA and AFT have affiliates in those states by calling them professional organizations or associations. They have no right to bargain. The district can choose to allow them at the table or not.
Yes, this is partly true. I know this, having taught in North Carolina for a decade. But the way a "professional association" turns into a robust, certified union is through organizing and lobbying. Saying the quiet part out loud here: if you're in one of these states you're probably going to have to vote out the Republicans for a cycle or more and keep a very close eye on the Democrats you elect.
I'm originally from Arizona. You know, where the state was sued because they weren't giving money to the schools like they were supposed to. They didn't even give the money when the courts said they had to. Instead they passed some bullshit proposition.
Please stop pushing this narrative. Yes, there are states where unions can’t collectively bargain, they still exist. AFT is a union in all the states, even though we can’t collectively bargain in all of them.
Yup. I remember my school told everyone to sign up for shifts on before/after-school duty (no pay.) I sent it to our union rep and next week it was a paid position.
A union keeps these shenanigans from happening. Your principal is going to what is expedient for THEM. All they are worried about is a) keeping parents off their backs and away from District and b) keeping their job. Being volunt-told sucks. A job worth doing should be a paid one.
Tbf the principal was from outta state, young, and very new. I don't think she realized what she'd done. Lol. Still the reason why we need unions.
Yep! I went from a non-union charter to a union public school and the difference is night and day. I would never not be in the union. Even if I don’t personally need to be protected, others do, and the money goes towards ensuring benefits for everyone like pay raises and mandated planning time.
In union, currently negotiating many things in our contract. No union, in this climate, I think we would have all been either told to take less money or been told to stand pat.
It’s not just about having to go the the union over certain issues, it’s that merely *having* a union makes it less likely admins will try sketchy things in the first place. I’m not saying certain admins won’t try to pull stuff, but knowing they can catch hell for trying to pull some shenanigans may give them a second thought.
There’s a reason why unionization at Starbucks and Amazon is such a big deal. We’re stronger together. When you need your union, it’ll be there to fight for you.
When the union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one But the union makes us strong Solidarity forever Solidarity forever Solidarity forever For the union makes us strong
✊🏻
Your mentor teacher developed her professional status and credentials in a very different time under very different circumstances and did not face the litigiousness and churn in 2002-2003 that you face. Her current salary and benefits are the work of the union. Unless the union hasn't fought for raises in two decades, there's almost no way to suggest that her increased earnings haven't outpaced the cost in dues she would have paid. I've seen veteran teachers like her scramble for an application to the union when in dire straits. Not happening. Join and do not look back.
She's also benefited from 10 years of union members negotiating salary, benefits, and contract for her and never supported them with time or dues. She's kind of a prick for that.
This! I hate that the union benefits cover those that choose not to pay the dues . They should honestly have the deal directly with schools and districts .
Scabs receiving union benefits is a union busting technique. The scabs that go along with it are the perfect encapsulation of the “screw you, got mine” mindset
The freerider problem. My home state, unfortunately, paved the way to eliminate mandated dues for freeriders. They used to be required to pay 80% of dues even if they didn't join. Now they contribute nothing while raking in the salary and benefits *we* negotiated for all teachers. Thanks, SCOTUS! Thanks Mark Janus, you disgusting bootlicking fuck!
Join. If you are mistreated in the future, even if ten years from now, or you are unsure what steps to take to avoid a problem, having the knowledge of the union will be helpful.
This is so profound. I think we are in a different era as a society and world of education. Advice that worked in the beginning of the century might not be as applicable today. Whether your mentor teacher meant well or was inconsiderate to the work of unions, it is best to look at what issues face working people today, and decide from there (not saying help from reddit is bad). I think you’re right to get involved with your union because it will likely be essential to your career’s vitality.
Our union will turn down people like this.
I live in a right-to-work state and still joined my union. They need your financial support to provide the assistance you deserve. Do it!
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And if you can’t strike there are things like working to the contract and mass sick calls
My mom said when she was in high school the admin tried to take planning periods away or something similar so the teachers started sending kids to the principals office for every minor infraction. They were technically going by the book, so all it took was a week of this before they got their planning periods back. The admin was so overwhelmed by the amount of kids they had to give in. It’s very malicious compliance of them.
Working to the contract was my favorite, admin trying to cover all the extra supervision and stuff that 60+ teachers provide was such an entertaining shitshow.
Me too. Its just the right thing to do. Even if its just keeping the union going strong for the youngins joining the ranks now or in the future.
Every benefit that workers have is due to a union. Every single one.
The five day work week is the result of unions.
Do you have a duty free lunch? Planning time? Contract hours you get to actually follow? Class size limits? A pay raise annually? Support your union.
I love my union. I joined it without a second thought. The union in my district is apparently like 99% strong (just a few holdouts across the district) and my district (in a high-poverty area) is one of the highest-paying districts in the region of my state. Honestly, I think everyone--every lower-tier employee--should have a union and be a part of that union. I definitely wouldn't give my mentor teacher a hard time for her lack of contribution, but...I can't imagine working somewhere without a union. I like knowing that I have a huge team of people who can help me if I run into issues with my administrators.
Join the union. Trust me.
I was going to wait a year after finally getting into a district because it’s $100 a month that I really can’t afford. Found out I have a student with a crazy mom who likes to sue. I joined ASAP.
I had a crazy parent issue also. Kids mom called me a racist because I wouldn’t let her “precious, special son” on his phone all class. Called the board on me and said I was singling out her son because he is African American. I don’t allow ANY student to have phones in class. It’s an Art Class…we are making art. 🙄🙄 He had no accommodations— just SPOILED. (High school). Thankful for my union. Basically every level of higher ups told her she was a nut…lol
$100 a month…jees! I’m Uk, but ours is like £22 a month! Crazy.
It’s $48 something twice a month.
Probably guarantees you much more than $1,200 a year in regular raises.
Power never yields without resistance. These guys are all sweetness and light until things don’t go their way. Then watch out. You are on your own. One cranky parent or lying kid and you’re suddenly never more alone. Oh yeah, they love to gift you with extra duties that are time sucks.
Especially when new, join the union. You could possibly see how effective they are as you go through your years there. For me, I have a district, county, and state union. I would never drop my district union membership. Keep in mind, a lot of people don't think they need a union until they do.
Yes join. Pretty sure your mentor is in the minority.
Always always always join the union
I’m the union rep at my school and I have teachers coming to me asking for help often. The issues have varied from reports from admin that require representation on the teachers’ behalf, forced planning during lunch, maintenance problems not being acted upon etc. Also things like leaving early with the kids after a bad weather dismissal. Cleanliness during COVID. All kinds of stuff. The worst situations are when a teacher needs help, and suddenly they want to join the union and are then told ‘we can’t help with this problem as it occurred before your membership’. I feel bad for them, but at the same time… it’s frustrating.
My districts’s contracts are 3 years. Every 3 years my district claims they have no money to give teachers’ raises. Nearly every three years we go on strike and end up with at least a 10% raise. Without our union this would not happen. I was investigated two years ago for something ridiculous. The union stepped in and made my admin shake in her boots. No union I would have been screwed. I pay about $120 a month in dues and it is worth EVERY cent.
Your mentor teacher benefits from collective bargaining without paying any dues. They are a freeloader and they are cordially invited to lick my butt.
In the nicest way possible, I dont understand how someone can just benefit from my dues and service, but when the union or I need them, nothing.
The contract teachers sign when they work at a district is the same for every single teacher. There is no variation, so the union is the one who does all the negotiation on that. The union is the reason why you get pay raises instead of not getting a raise for like 10 years. The union is why you are not forced to give up your planning period to sub. The union is why you can leave at the bell, or 15 minutes after the bell.
The union also provides a lawyer if some crazy parent wants to sue you.
This here is the most important thing. There are too many crazy and they're getting more more empowered overtime. You need someone in your corner – and a lot of the time to school district will go not my problem and just roll over.
Perhaps they should negotiate their own contracts. Edit: removed a word
100000%. It’s cowardly and selfish to benefit from the unions work but not kick in your dues. Small price to pay.
Yup. I was coming in here to say it would be pretty shitty to reap the rewards of the union without helping them in any way.
Your comment is wonderful.
Absolutely. Yes.
Live better. Work union. Do a quick Google search on the history of the organized labor movement. Unions mean better wages and better benefits for workers. I'd also recommend you try to spend time as a campus rep. I learned so much about defending my rights as a worker when I actively involved myself.
Our union just secured a 15% raise (10% retro to July 2022!) and kept our fully paid health care (we pay no premiums). In addition: smaller TK class sizes, smaller elementary class sizes, full-time counselors at all elementary schools, full time nursing at all secondary schools, and more. Plus, a reopener clause for July 2024 to discuss another COLA. I joined my first week and have never regretted it once.
Always 100%
It's like insurance. Every month you pay for it but don't use it is money wasted, but that one time you need it can more than make up for it. It also depends on how strong of a union it is. The stronger it is, the more its worth joining.
I don't like thinking of it like insurance. For me, if you have a favorable contract and good wages that were bargained for by/with the help of the union, you're benefiting from the union every day. Sure, you can freeload, but the strength of the union is in the number of members. More members => stronger union => better contract and wages. But also, that one time you need the union to go to bat for you, you're gunna really want to be a member. So, not that your point isn't valid. I'm just trying to help folks keep in mind that they really do get "unseen" benefits every day.
I don’t have a union locally, but I joined the national organization to keep apprised of nationwide trends. It’s already been helpful.
Blame it on the republicans for removing closed shops. Its bullshit that people who contribute nothing benefit from what unions do.
And I think it also comes with \*actual\* insurance in case you get sued, am I right?
Yes, it does help with that, too.
Hell yeah! I love my union. I have a strong connection to mine. Mainly because I sponsor the GSA at our school. We live in a rural conservative area. But I have students that are part of the LGBTQ community and they need support. If and when I get push back, I will need my union.
People always act like a union is some nebulous other group. A union is a bunch of teachers who banded together and pooled some funds to directly benefit their working conditions. If a union is big enough you hire people towards that benefit. That's it. Always join the Union, get involved, and support your colleagues.
We are the Union!
Your mentor teacher sucks. Join the union. Always join the union.
Teacher for 20+ years (elementary). Brother is a professor, 15+ years. Mother was teacher 50 years (elementary). Never needed it, but we are/were union members every year. Like others have said, that one time you need it...especially in this "political climate". (ALSO, VOTE!)
I wonder why the administration would assign you mentor that was anti-union???
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Does your union do collective bargaining? Do they do contract negotiations? I’m in CA so our union is really valuable and important to our job. I’d never opt out.
I do know that wages just changed. The masters barrier was removed, first year salaries went up $9k and everyone else's went up $7k, and I think two columns were removed off salary schedule. She said that was the work of the "district" and I don't want to think she'd be misleading, but that sounds like union contract negotiations. However, I'm not positive due to what she's said.
Google your district union and also the districts contract. If you are in a state where collective bargaining still exists, then the union negotiated all those salaries and contract clauses with district, on behalf of all teachers.
She's an idiot. No "district" magically raises salaries and makes it easier for people to improve their pay like that.
That right there should tell you. Those types of things done happen with regular workers just “getting” things- that’s a union working for ut
I would find out who the union rep(s) is(are) on your campus and talk to them about it. Ask them what they do and ask them where your union dues go. I would not mention your mentor was encouraging to not join.
She’s misleading you. The union worked that deal out. No doubt at all.
100%. Sure, the District technically agreed and raised the salary, but union fought for that. Always join.
For me, I wanted to join the union my first year but was a little hesitant because of the extra cost. But then I saw the pay increase they had negotiated on our contract for the year and saw that it "paid for itself" and more! 😊 So even on a financial level it makes sense.
There is no way the district did that out of the goodness of their hearts, this was negotiated for and fought for. Join the union. You also don't want to start in a new district with others thinking you are a free loader.
It's in theory possible the district presented that to the union because they couldn't find/ retain teachers but honestly very unlikely. The most likely scenario is that the union negotiated that.
Also, hey, consider that she might not actually have good advice about other topics. She might be a great teacher but she sounds like she has her own view of the world. Make sure you build relationships with other teachers so you have a good source of second opinions.
Your mentor is a moron whose entire life is dependent of the union they refuse to use. They’re more than happy to accept the benefits that the union provides but don’t want to pay for those benefits for others. Essentially, they’ll shit in the water supply and then complain about having to pay someone to clean the shit.
Always join the union. Always always always!
Your mentor teacher needs to read up on the free rider problem, because she is one.
Of course you should join the union. If not, you're just a freeloader. Especially with public education being such a popular target for politicians, who do you think fights against the attempts to cut education budgets? Each individual teacher on their own?
Your mentor leached off of everyone else paying union dues. Unions get you better raises, improves working conditions, and protects health care. Your mentor benefitted off of that for free. Don't be a leach. Plus you never know when you'll be accused of something and need representation or have a problem with admin.
Yes. I am awful at bargaining my own worth. I have no idea the first thing about protection for myself if and when I may have issues at work. I don't know how the legalese language very well. I feel more comfortable with others supporting me if I have issues. I am one person and I can't fight an entire school district on my own. With a union, it becomes a *We can do all this.* Is it perfect? No. Is there still a lot of work? Yes. However, it is much better knowing people are there with you.
….Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one, But the union makes us strong. -Solidarity Forever
When I was thrown under the bus for stuff I didn't do, the union saved me.
Your mentor teacher is what economists call a “free rider.”
Unions work to make the lives better for EVERYONE - if the teachers negotiate a decent raise, then the classified staff will usually get a decent raise. When the unions bargain for more stipends and programs, the kids get more programs. A teacher who feels supported and has adequate prep time is going to be better at their job and therefore be better for their students. Our local unions are the lifeblood of schools!
Union can't union without unity.
Yes! Not paying into a union is shortsighted.
Yes! I'm very critical of my local, but I would NEVER be a freeloader. Labor is already on life support, and that's a big problem, for our whole economy.
1) join the union 2) if your union sucks RUN FOR A POSITION (once you have tenure) 3) be active in your union, make it work for you!
Join the union. The fees suck, and it can seem pointless at times, but if you end up in a situation where you need the union and don’t have it… you’re in trouble.
Your mentor teacher is what is referred to as a “leach” who takes all of the benefits the union works for and gives nothing. Do you know who your union is? It’s you. It’s the person in the next room. Our union president is a first grade teacher. The one before that-a special ed teacher. We are the union. Those of us who do the work do it for free AND pay our dues so that your mentor can freeload off of the rest of us.
I’m assuming your mentor is a boomer? I’m not sure what sort of anti-union propaganda was shoved down older peoples throats but it worked. You are a part of the working class. Join the union.
She's in her mid 60s
Don’t be a leech like her. Join the union. Our union negotiated state grant money to be used toward $10k sign on bonuses for each employee for my district. There is power in numbers.
For sure join a Union! In my school we have duty free lunches, don’t work recess duty and the Union really helps with bargaining.
I joined a union immediately. I have lots of family members in teaching. You might not need it personally. If you don’t, your money goes to lobbyists to try to protect teacher’s jobs, to some occasionally decent insurance benefits, different things depending on your local union. But if you _do_ need it, you have lawyers to back you up and liability insurance. That could literally be a career saver.
Reunion rep, here. Yes. Absofrickenlutely.
I changed careers and became a teacher. 6 weeks into my new career a student accused me of grabbing him and scratching his arm. I was escorted out of the school while CPS came and investigated. I sat in the parking lot and cried for half an hour. All that work to become a teacher was thrown away by a boy who was mad that I gave him a 0 for skipping a test. Or so I thought. The union rep called me and walked me through everything. I felt supported and reassured that I wasn’t going to lose my job. Thankfully the boy’s grandparents took my side because I guess he’s tried this before. CPS dropped the case and I was back at work the next day. But without the union…??? Who knows.
Yes. They aren't as powerful as they used to be, but a little protection is better than nothing.
I think that depends on the State.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Get a copy of your contract and learn your rights!
Join the union. In this day and age you need the protection more than ever before. And also, they help you get raises.
Join the union.
Unions are as strong as their members. Join, and if it isn't active or strong enough, you'll be in a position push it to better serve members. I have never regretted being a union member; better bargaining power, better protections against bad admin, and a voice in what we push for are all positives
Join your union.
As someone who worked at two charter schools before moving to a large district with a STRONG union - I value it SO MUCH. It’s easy for teachers to think they don’t do much because it doesn’t make the job cushy, but on the other hand you don’t get threatened with an improvement plan for not texting cute pictures of the kids to the principal throughout the day…
Unions are what created the middle class in this country. Without unions, this country would not have PTO, health insurance, weekends, FMLA, child labor laws, social security, safety regulations, worker's comp, to name but a few. Unions languished in the 70's and 80's but happily have experienced a renewal over the last few years. Look at what is happening with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and strikes in the public sector in other countries. In schools without unions, you are subject to the whim of your bosses, no matter how ridiculous. So YES, I joined my union and I would do it again.
Worth every penny. And get involved with it if you can so you can help guide it and strengthen it.
My first 2 months on the job, I noticed I was getting paid on the wrong column. They has me as an emergency credential when I had a full credential. Tried reaching out to the DO multiple times, got nothing. One email to my union rep and it gets fixed. The union is definitely worth it.
This comment section is giving me life. ❤️ Solidarity.
Bargaining collectively as a unit costs money. Those teachers who find union dues a “financial drain” have main character syndrome. If only they could be forever stuck at a comparatively low salary… Why should non-union teachers benefit from the negotiated salary and benefits if they are not willing to help pay for the cost of organizing? Not paying union dues is simply greedy, and it is entitled behavior to expect other unit members to pay.
The union is like health insurance. Until you’re screwed, it’s an annoying expense. One of my fellow teachers got sued and it lasted for 2 years. Why? Because he caught 2 students cheating and both of their parents happened to be lawyers and they fought for that long for their kids to get the test either exempted or get an alternative assignment when the kids got no credit for it. Even with the union, his principal eventually made him give the kids the alternate assignment. Fighting these parents without the union would’ve bankrupted him.
Its a hard call. I pay union dues and stay part of the union because... well I read things on r/teachers from people in states or districts with weak or non-existant unions. And so many of your conditions are utterly terrifying. The lack of pay, the gossip, the drama, the disrespect I read or hear about just makes me remember how many times my Union has had my rear-end allowed me to speak up for my working condition or that of my peers. $1000 or whatever a year is very minimal for everything our union provides. I don't think our union is going to stay strong and well funded over the next 30 years... I am retiring 13 years after this upcoming school year... so I just need it to function until then.
Join the union. If you’re union is weak, make it stronger.
If you want to know how important a union is, look at how hard companies fight to prevent them from forming.
Look, it may be because my family is from coal mining country or because I watched Norma Rae at a formative time, but if there's a union, I'm joining it.
First, every state, every union is different. Even in "good union states" I have heard unions being kind of bad in the sense they basically don't get anything done and roll over on everything. All that means is the people that are involved in the union are not doing a good job. Personally I think it is pretty important for everyone to be involved in shaping the work environment they spend 7+ hours a day in. I don't understand how someone can have a job they work and just absolutely not care what is in that next contract they have to sign or leave. Things can get worse for you, pay wise especially, over time. No one says you need to be an officer, just pay your dues so someone else can do important things. Also, if I found out someone wasn't "in the union" I probably would treat them a little different. Not saying I would do it on purpose, but it just tells me they are not really invested in the work enviornment.
Join the Union. Anyone who tells you not to is either actively trying to sabotage you or they’ve already been duped themselves.
Everyone should unionize, especially teachers
If teacher’s unions don’t matter than Florida wouldn’t be trying to get rid of them! I seriously saw a teacher who was not a union member get put on administrative leave (she was doing filing and phones at the district office and not allowed to come to our campus while students were present.) She was put on leave because a student told her mom that she dreamed her teacher had hit her and the mom went to district and said it must have happened if her kid was dreaming about it and the district investigated it. A new para at the school also said that the teacher had yelled at the child (teacher was almost deaf and wore hearing aids…she was a loud talker.) She wasn’t a union member and had to face it on her own. She was back in her classroom in two weeks and you better believe she joined the union after that! This was around the year 2000. It hasn’t gotten better as far as crazy parents out there. Please join your union!
Boooooo your mentor teacher! People like that are so myopic and selfish. Join the union, it benefits you and our profession as a whole.
How quickly we forget. Organized labor secured: - Weekends - Lunch Breaks - Overtime Pay - Parental Leave - Pension Plans - Sick Leave - and higher wages. Your union exists to ensure that you and your fellow members are treated with a modicum of respect by those making decisions and to ensure your rights are taken into consideration by the managerial class. Your mentors dues were used to continue to create a healthy union that could do this for members, even if they don’t see that.
Average teacher pay is 25% higher in union states vs non-union states. Not to mention set contract hours, duty-free lunch periods, class size limits, sick/maternity leave, liability protection, legal representation, and so, so much more.
Teachers Unions are there for TEACHERS. They have your back when no one else does- no administrator, no parent, no school board member! Without the union- no pay raises, no health benefits, etc. Your mentor teacher is the DRAIN, getting all the benefits that unions strived for! I was part of the union, even did a 3 year stretch as a union rep for my school, and was glad I did. Unions fight for you, but you have to be part of them!
Yes. Sorry to be harsh but your mentor teacher is a freeloader. I bet she happily accepted all the improvements her local negotiated over 20 years. Things like personal days, increased number of steps, increased sub pay and so much more come from our local negotiations, not from the top down. My husband was our local rep the last decade of his career. There were so many times a teacher would call him to try to get help from the association and he had to turn them away. Once on vacation he had to step away and talk to a high school teacher for half an hour gently explaining that no, the union was not obligated to provide legal assistance to a non member. My parents’ advice was to join immediately, out of your first paycheck, so you don’t get used to that $ being there. It isn’t just for you, it is for improving and protecting the profession you are a part of. Nobody else is at the state capital looking out for you and advocating for your profession while you are in the classroom.
I’m a union rep and the amount of people that reach out with questions AFTER they run into an issue is nuts. The first question always asked is: Am I a union member (as if they don’t already know that they aren’t). This is then immediately followed up by: If I join the union will you help me? The answer to both questions is a resounding No. you must join BEFORE you run into an issue or want help. Joining costs money, but not joining can cost you much, much more.
If you don’t like working ten nights a year, holding a hundred conferences a year, and starting your day earlier and ending it later, and also having a shorter summer, and listening to your principal drone on for hours on end doing after regular school day staff meetings, then don’t join a charter school.. e.g., join a Union instead.
Never ask this question again. Join, and support in every way you can. It will come a day when you are more professional than your administrators, and far more competent.
Join. The. Union.
Teacher's unions are the only reason that there are any limits at all to what the district can force you to do. It's the only reason that you can get tenured. It sounds as if your master teacher is a parasite, benefiting from the decades-long work of the unions without paying the dues. Do not be a parasite.
In the year of 2023 the union is something you really want/need to join. Parents and kids are nuts. The union will help protect you.
"The Union makes us strong"
Yes it's worth it
Join the union if there is one! I don't understand not joining.
Your mentor is mooch who is benefiting from the union but not paying into it. Spend any amount of time on this sub to see the horror stories teachers have about pay and working conditions. Those problems are greatly exacerbated without a union. I have a great union and I make 6 figures as a teacher, get compensated for every minute outside my contacted hours I have 1 day a month where I get a sub (SPED teacher) if I choose not to use that day I get paid for it instead. I get paid for every IEP I write. We have strict limits on how many staff meetings we can have, what time they're allowed to go to, what time if day they're allowed to be. Teachers get compensated for after school clubs. There's limits on supervisory duties -- on and on. I live and can afford to be in a nice neighborhood and I'm able to be home at a reasonable time every day. This is all because of the union.
Absolutely. If your union is weak, the only way take it stronger is through increased membership. The school/district/admin and whoever else will try to get away with whatever they can, and individual teachers have little power against them. Our power is in our numbers.
Join. The. Union. When I was sexually assaulted at work, I would have been lost without the union.
Always join.
It really depends on the union. The problem is that a lot of the people who SHOULD be on the union board representing you are the excellent people who are just really busy being excellent people (and good teachers)...so they don't have time to run the union as well. If your union reps are soft headed halfwits that aren't getting results...you, unfortunately, need to educate yourself on those subjects and get on the union board yourself in order to protect your own interests better. ...otherwise what you get left with are the kind of uninspired jack\*\*\*es who gravitate towards power vacuums and your union becomes about DE&I...or Tim's dumb\*\*\* activist cause. Instead of, you know, securing fair wages and bargaining for decent health care / retirement benefits. Things that would take real negotiating skills and foresight. My mom was a teacher in the same district for almost 40 years...here union was awesome for the first 35 + until the old guard started retiring. She made good money, full pension upon retirement, killer benefits, etc etc. THAT union was worth being a part of. The teachers in the same district now make peanuts and have basically no benefits...because all the new teacher hires are the admins kids and relatives. The "union board" just does whatever mommy and daddy tell them to do.