Teachers Unions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia at least, they have no real power, so they are completely unhelpful. They are only allowed to do as much as principals let them, so that's why they probably don't want to ruffle feathers. Basically, it's a waste of dues, which is why after a year of paying all that money and getting nothing (even when I had a real problem that a real union might have helped with) I just stopped paying them.

That's too bad. At our school our VEA reps are very proactive and membership in the VEA has helped a couple of teachers who have had problems with the school system. Although the VEA is not a union, IMO no teacher in a Virginia public school should be teaching without being a member of the VEA and having access to their legal and other services.

You sound like you work for them. Anyone who wants to throw their money away can go ahead and do it - but I know better. After paying dues (no small amount) for many years, I nearly lost my job due to a paperwork screwup on the part of the district's HR department. VEA did nothing whatsoever to help me - they were worse than useless. In the end, a school administrator pulled some strings to get the mistake fixed. I haven't paid union due since and never will.

No, I don't work for them. And I have never needed their services. But I have seen evidence of their work with teachers in my building who were getting railroaded and our building reps and the organization reps totally stepped in and stopped the admin actions. Sounds like you've had a different experience. That is too bad. Also, just as an FYI, the VEA is not a union so you haven't ever paid teacher union dues unless you've belonged to a different organization. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia at least, they have no real power, so they are completely unhelpful. They are only allowed to do as much as principals let them, so that's why they probably don't want to ruffle feathers. Basically, it's a waste of dues, which is why after a year of paying all that money and getting nothing (even when I had a real problem that a real union might have helped with) I just stopped paying them.

That's too bad. At our school our VEA reps are very proactive and membership in the VEA has helped a couple of teachers who have had problems with the school system. Although the VEA is not a union, IMO no teacher in a Virginia public school should be teaching without being a member of the VEA and having access to their legal and other services.

You sound like you work for them. Anyone who wants to throw their money away can go ahead and do it - but I know better. After paying dues (no small amount) for many years, I nearly lost my job due to a paperwork screwup on the part of the district's HR department. VEA did nothing whatsoever to help me - they were worse than useless. In the end, a school administrator pulled some strings to get the mistake fixed. I haven't paid union due since and never will.

Is this the job of VEA? I'm actually just very curious. I thought their job was to advocate on behalf of teachers and administration at the local and state level and provide training. It just doesn't seem like they'd have the staff to handle a paperwork issue.

+1 Unfortunately it seems like the poster's expectation and the VEA's actual role were not a match.

[Anonymous]

In Virginia you don't have a real union. You can't expect much.