2009 - Independent Teachers

19 Nov

Did you receive a postcard like this one in the mail (or maybe an email with information on the Colorado Education Association’s $39 Every Member Option political refund)?

Click on the postcard for more information about requesting one or more refunds before the December 15 deadline.

OR Watch this 2-minute video explanation by a Jefferson County teacher:

OR Listen to an overview of the Every Member Option and some frequently asked questions on a 3-minute podcast by clicking the play button below (if you can’t see the player, or it doesn’t work, click here to listen):

Please visit our “Political Refunds” page for the detailed information on when and how to submit a request. For information on related topics, please check out the links on the left sidebar.

This information is provided by the Independence Institute as a public service.

18 Nov

California Ballot Initiative Would Stop Government Payrolls from Collecting Political Money

Tracy

Uncategorized

A citizens group in California is proposing a ballot initiative that would prevent government payroll systems from collecting political funds. Among other possible advantages, this reform would empower individual teachers in the Golden State to decide how they want to spend money on politics.

Go here to listen to Ben DeGrow of the Independence Institute and Mike Reitz of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation discuss the possible impacts of the initiative in light of similar reforms that have been adopted or proposed in Colorado, Washington, Utah and Idaho.

5 Nov

Forty Days and Counting ‘Till December 15 CEA Political Refund Deadline

Tracy

Uncategorized

Having seen this notice posted about a dues rebate available to teachers union members in California, it was striking to realize that as of today there are 40 days left for members of the Colorado Education Association to request the $39 Every Member Option political refund or lose it forever. Last year a teacher friend of ours explained it well in this 2-minute video — the basic facts remain the same:

For more details on the CEA refund and the additional refunds available from the various local CEA unions, check out our Political Refunds page.

5 Oct

California Teachers Empowerment Network Responds On Air to NEA’s Bob Chanin

Tracy

Membership Options, National Education Association

Remember the National Education Association’s Bob Chanin being a little bit too candid about the union’s priorities? Well, a “sister” group of ours on the West Coast, known as the California Teachers Empowerment Network, has released a new radio ad on KRLA in Los Angeles. Thought you’d like to take a listen to the one-minute spot:

Here’s where you can find the Citizens’ Commission on Civil Rights report (PDF) cited by CTEN president Larry Sand on the radio ad.

16 Sep

Should the NEA and AFT Teachers Unions Stop Sending Member Dues Money to ACORN?

Tracy

National Education Association

If you are a member of the teachers union — whether the National Education Association or American Federation of Teachers — you may find this news disturbing:

Teachers unions have contributed over $1.3 million to ACORN and its affiliates, since 2005, according to U.S. Labor Department financial disclosure forms.

But there is no guarantee that the $1,333,112 million in donations from the National Education Association (NEA) and Teachers AFL-CIO unions are actually being used for their stated purposes, according to present and former Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN) officials.

Some of the larger donations include $100,000 from the NEA in 2008 and $200,000 in 2007 for political activities. The Teachers AFL-CIO Local Union 2 contributed $406,730 in 2008, $457,778 in 2007, and $346,300 in 2006 for representational activities.

Now that ACORN staffers have been caught on video helping a man and woman posing as a pimp and a prostitute acquire illegal home loans to set up a brothel it is imperative that these organizations reconsider their support, said Ron Sykes, treasurer for ACORN’s Washington D.C. branch. [emphases added]

The U.S. Senate on Monday overwhelmingly voted to stop sending taxpayer money to ACORN. What are teachers unions going to do?

As always, it’s important to note — especially during this time of the school year — that all Colorado teachers have membership options.

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