Time to switch unions - is FEA a mess?

[Anonymous]

I'm a member of FCFT and the new president is excellent, IMO. She brought real passion to the table and did some amazing organizing before she was elected, and I'm really optimistic about what she will do in office.

The union is only as strong as its members. We need every teacher to join and get involved, to advocate for yourself, for the profession, for our students, and for our community. Teachers in FCPS have accepted being beaten up, rolled over thrown under the bus, and shortchanged for far too long, this year included. With collective bargaining we have taken a step forward, but again that strength is only as meaningful as the people who actually turn out to budget hearings, speak up at meetings turn up to knock on doors for elections, and speak up when a bunch of anti-union trolls show up in comments sections like here.

[Anonymous]

Until we get a School Board that puts education first over political demands, things won't change.
They give service to collective bargaining, but it is just for looks.

Look at the graphs that are out there of the rise in administrative non-school jobs over the last years. Look at the SB votes for themselves to have new, expensive assistants in addition to the staff they already have. And, most of those new "chiefs of staff" are political activists. Our SB is a stepping stone for political advancement rather than people who are concerned about educating the kids and taking care of their most important staff: the teachers.

And, sadly, the leaders of these unions are also political activists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a member of FCFT and the new president is excellent, IMO. She brought real passion to the table and did some amazing organizing before she was elected, and I'm really optimistic about what she will do in office.

The union is only as strong as its members. We need every teacher to join and get involved, to advocate for yourself, for the profession, for our students, and for our community. Teachers in FCPS have accepted being beaten up, rolled over thrown under the bus, and shortchanged for far too long, this year included. With collective bargaining we have taken a step forward, but again that strength is only as meaningful as the people who actually turn out to budget hearings, speak up at meetings turn up to knock on doors for elections, and speak up when a bunch of anti-union trolls show up in comments sections like here.

Is FCFT the union whose officer publicly supported boundary changes? Why on earth would I support such an extreme organization?

I support unions generally, but hope that your union slithers back to the hole it came from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a member of FCFT and the new president is excellent, IMO. She brought real passion to the table and did some amazing organizing before she was elected, and I'm really optimistic about what she will do in office.

The union is only as strong as its members. We need every teacher to join and get involved, to advocate for yourself, for the profession, for our students, and for our community. Teachers in FCPS have accepted being beaten up, rolled over thrown under the bus, and shortchanged for far too long, this year included. With collective bargaining we have taken a step forward, but again that strength is only as meaningful as the people who actually turn out to budget hearings, speak up at meetings turn up to knock on doors for elections, and speak up when a bunch of anti-union trolls show up in comments sections like here.

Is FCFT the union whose officer publicly supported boundary changes? Why on earth would I support such an extreme organization?

I support unions generally, but hope that your union slithers back to the hole it came from.

Because Teachers unions are political. Period.

[Anonymous]

Teacher . . . 20+ years in FCPS. I would avoid both and avoid FCPS politics as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher . . . 20+ years in FCPS. I would avoid both and avoid FCPS politics as much as possible.

Check out the AFT positions--how do you feel about gender affirming care? Do you think that should be a union issue? If you belong to the AFT then you are supporting this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a member of FCFT and the new president is excellent, IMO. She brought real passion to the table and did some amazing organizing before she was elected, and I'm really optimistic about what she will do in office.

The union is only as strong as its members. We need every teacher to join and get involved, to advocate for yourself, for the profession, for our students, and for our community. Teachers in FCPS have accepted being beaten up, rolled over thrown under the bus, and shortchanged for far too long, this year included. With collective bargaining we have taken a step forward, but again that strength is only as meaningful as the people who actually turn out to budget hearings, speak up at meetings turn up to knock on doors for elections, and speak up when a bunch of anti-union trolls show up in comments sections like here.

How? The only way I've heard to "advocate" is to beg the people who make decisions to consider staff points of view. And then the BOS/SB/superintendent says "Thank you for your time" and then does what they were going to do anyway.

I mean, suppose all 15,000ish teachers joined the union. We all cry that we need more money/smaller classes/more planning time. Then the BOS says, "We can't afford to give you that" and the school board says, "Sorry, can't afford that." Unless everyone is willing to quit (they aren't, pay checks are important), what is the point? What other bargaining chip do we have besides threatening to be super angry?

When the union has a better plan than "ask your SB member to support this!", maybe I'd be willing to pay nearly $1000 a year. Until then, I can send my own emails AND save $1000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a member of FCFT and the new president is excellent, IMO. She brought real passion to the table and did some amazing organizing before she was elected, and I'm really optimistic about what she will do in office.

The union is only as strong as its members. We need every teacher to join and get involved, to advocate for yourself, for the profession, for our students, and for our community. Teachers in FCPS have accepted being beaten up, rolled over thrown under the bus, and shortchanged for far too long, this year included. With collective bargaining we have taken a step forward, but again that strength is only as meaningful as the people who actually turn out to budget hearings, speak up at meetings turn up to knock on doors for elections, and speak up when a bunch of anti-union trolls show up in comments sections like here.

How? The only way I've heard to "advocate" is to beg the people who make decisions to consider staff points of view. And then the BOS/SB/superintendent says "Thank you for your time" and then does what they were going to do anyway.

I mean, suppose all 15,000ish teachers joined the union. We all cry that we need more money/smaller classes/more planning time. Then the BOS says, "We can't afford to give you that" and the school board says, "Sorry, can't afford that." Unless everyone is willing to quit (they aren't, pay checks are important), what is the point? What other bargaining chip do we have besides threatening to be super angry?

When the union has a better plan than "ask your SB member to support this!", maybe I'd be willing to pay nearly $1000 a year. Until then, I can send my own emails AND save $1000.

And, in a few years the bargaining chip will be for the SB to give the union leaders even more time off to do union work. And, you will pay for them to go to expensive conferences. And, then, just like our SB and Superintendent, they will need larger well paid administrative staffs to conduct the union business--so that the "teachers can get better pay." Except that the only people who really benefit are those running the unions.

Retired teacher who has seen this in action.

[Anonymous]

The unions failed spectacularly in their bargaining. They allowed FCPS to give 5% raises to nonunion members like central office staff and accepted cuts in school staff that make teachers jobs harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a member of FCFT and the new president is excellent, IMO. She brought real passion to the table and did some amazing organizing before she was elected, and I'm really optimistic about what she will do in office.

The union is only as strong as its members. We need every teacher to join and get involved, to advocate for yourself, for the profession, for our students, and for our community. Teachers in FCPS have accepted being beaten up, rolled over thrown under the bus, and shortchanged for far too long, this year included. With collective bargaining we have taken a step forward, but again that strength is only as meaningful as the people who actually turn out to budget hearings, speak up at meetings turn up to knock on doors for elections, and speak up when a bunch of anti-union trolls show up in comments sections like here.

How? The only way I've heard to "advocate" is to beg the people who make decisions to consider staff points of view. And then the BOS/SB/superintendent says "Thank you for your time" and then does what they were going to do anyway.

I mean, suppose all 15,000ish teachers joined the union. We all cry that we need more money/smaller classes/more planning time. Then the BOS says, "We can't afford to give you that" and the school board says, "Sorry, can't afford that." Unless everyone is willing to quit (they aren't, pay checks are important), what is the point? What other bargaining chip do we have besides threatening to be super angry?

When the union has a better plan than "ask your SB member to support this!", maybe I'd be willing to pay nearly $1000 a year. Until then, I can send my own emails AND save $1000.

And, in a few years the bargaining chip will be for the SB to give the union leaders even more time off to do union work. And, you will pay for them to go to expensive conferences. And, then, just like our SB and Superintendent, they will need larger well paid administrative staffs to conduct the union business--so that the "teachers can get better pay." Except that the only people who really benefit are those running the unions.

Retired teacher who has seen this in action.

And you think this is the place to fight that battle?
In public service I. The year 2025 with trump as president you are identifying that the corruption battle should be fought in the front of the teachers union?

I get they probably haven’t helped you and they are low level corrupt but compared to venture capitalists or the average corporation, or our president, this is low level. And pitching a fit about it won’t help our country or other workers right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a member of FCFT and the new president is excellent, IMO. She brought real passion to the table and did some amazing organizing before she was elected, and I'm really optimistic about what she will do in office.

The union is only as strong as its members. We need every teacher to join and get involved, to advocate for yourself, for the profession, for our students, and for our community. Teachers in FCPS have accepted being beaten up, rolled over thrown under the bus, and shortchanged for far too long, this year included. With collective bargaining we have taken a step forward, but again that strength is only as meaningful as the people who actually turn out to budget hearings, speak up at meetings turn up to knock on doors for elections, and speak up when a bunch of anti-union trolls show up in comments sections like here.

Is that the one that wanted schools closed until there was “zero Covid”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a member of FCFT and the new president is excellent, IMO. She brought real passion to the table and did some amazing organizing before she was elected, and I'm really optimistic about what she will do in office.

The union is only as strong as its members. We need every teacher to join and get involved, to advocate for yourself, for the profession, for our students, and for our community. Teachers in FCPS have accepted being beaten up, rolled over thrown under the bus, and shortchanged for far too long, this year included. With collective bargaining we have taken a step forward, but again that strength is only as meaningful as the people who actually turn out to budget hearings, speak up at meetings turn up to knock on doors for elections, and speak up when a bunch of anti-union trolls show up in comments sections like here.

Is that the one that wanted schools closed until there was “zero Covid”?

I believe that was Adams with FEA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The unions failed spectacularly in their bargaining. They allowed FCPS to give 5% raises to nonunion members like central office staff and accepted cuts in school staff that make teachers jobs harder.

Did they really have a choice? They asked for 7% to teachers, the county said nope, the best you get is 6% and we’re going to do non teaching raises too and oops your class sizes are bigger next year.

Realistically the union has no power. They could have thrown a hissy fit and demanded the 7% and it wouldn’t have changed anything. They accepted the decrease to save face, knowing they were never going to get what they wanted.

The school board, board of supervisors, and superintendent actually have control. The union has nothing other than shouting loudly.

[Anonymous]

When the unions rubber stamp the School Board, does that not tell you something?

[Anonymous]

So now FEA is initiating impeachment and removal investigations? Now I'm really thinking about jumping ship.