Teachers Unions

[Anonymous]

I have a sibling who is a teacher and is having a hard time getting assistance from an unresponsive, unhelpful union rep. I thought unions were supposed to advocate on behalf of teachers, but it seems they're more focused on not ruffling feathers of school administration. Is this normal? Is there a way to go around the union rep to get necessary assistance?

[Anonymous]

I've never met or heard of a union rep who is helpful. What's the issue?

[Anonymous]

Except for one, most building reps in schools where I taught, were useless. They were more interested in getting time off than anything else.

[Anonymous]

FEA is much more helpful than AFT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a sibling who is a teacher and is having a hard time getting assistance from an unresponsive, unhelpful union rep. I thought unions were supposed to advocate on behalf of teachers, but it seems they're more focused on not ruffling feathers of school administration. Is this normal? Is there a way to go around the union rep to get necessary assistance?

That's pretty much it in a nutshell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never met or heard of a union rep who is helpful. What's the issue?

+1

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Unions must address the issue of corrupt reps who used their positions for personal gain and don't defend members. This is the main issue that has turned many members against unions.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never met or heard of a union rep who is helpful. What's the issue?

+1

Meh, I've gone to MCEA reps for several things and had good experiences. I know plenty that are "rah rah union" but not that helpful, but they have not been the norm for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never met or heard of a union rep who is helpful. What's the issue?

+1

Meh, I've gone to MCEA reps for several things and had good experiences. I know plenty that are "rah rah union" but not that helpful, but they have not been the norm for me.

MCEA actually made an issue worse for me when they told my principal after they promised they wouldn't. Then my principal called me out (without actually using my name) in front of the whole staff. I'll never trust them again.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

My bad. It says here they offer legal services. What did they fail to do? Did you follow their procedure? http://www.veanea.org/home/legal-services.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never met or heard of a union rep who is helpful. What's the issue?

+1

Meh, I've gone to MCEA reps for several things and had good experiences. I know plenty that are "rah rah union" but not that helpful, but they have not been the norm for me.

MCEA actually made an issue worse for me when they told my principal after they promised they wouldn't. Then my principal called me out (without actually using my name) in front of the whole staff. I'll never trust them again.

That's really shitty. My cases haven't required confidentiality, but the reps I worked with completely resolved the issue in which administration was completely in the wrong and thought they could just bully their way through the staff.