The “union”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember that FEA and AFT are only advocating for teachers. They don't advocate for students. Seems as if the students are the ones without a voice.....

So, parents - BE VOCAL!!! Do not let these unions run the school system. They don't care about your kids.

Shut up, you rabble rouser. This is not the way to discuss things. Go find a soapbox and screech on it. You just make everything worse.

It’s how teachers killed hybrid. It’s what works.

Yep, that is what you believe because your tiny little brain is incapable of processing a cause effect chain that doesn’t have a cartoon character villain. It is called scapegoating. They did it to the Jews before WWII.

Yes. It’s exactly like that. Everyone who disagrees with you is a nazi.

Did I say that? No, I did not. Scapegoating is ugly, reductionistic, and dehumanizing and it is what they call a “slippery slope.” I used the historical reference to point out what happens when sliding to the bottom of the hill. Please, could we avoid that particular trajectory?

[Anonymous]

Yep, that is what you believe because your tiny little brain is incapable of processing a cause effect chain that doesn’t have a cartoon character villain. It is called scapegoating. They did it to the Jews before WWII.

There are lots of historical examples that can be used when explaining how regimes silence people. Using Nazi analogies and the Holocaust is a step too far.

Maybe, try Venezuela or Russia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not unions in Virginia as it is a Right to Work state. In other areas of the country, the teachers unions negotiate the contract for teachers in that jurisdiction. In FCPS, the County dictates the contract and each teacher signs a contract with the county. In FCPS, benefits like pensions and healthcare are also provided through the county and state and not the union.

The "unions" act as associations in Virginia, but they have no real say in the contract and benefits the county offers the teachers.

You are confusing a "union", which is an organization of workers dedicated to advancing workers' interests, with an "exclusive bargaining entity", which is a legal status a union assumes when an employer choses to or is compelled to bargain with them.

In VA, for now, teachers' unions are not exclusive bargaining entities (laws will be changing in May but it won't be automatic). They are still capable of exerting considerable influence, however. They collect dues, provide benefits to members, donate to campaigns, make endorsements, organize their members to turn out to vote, and if managed well can have a lot of clout in local politics.

It's strange to me. There's a group out there that calls itself a union, that is clearly mobilizing its members against a policy and claiming to speak for them. Yet some people get all bent out of shape when anyone tries to blame the union for the inability to implement a policy that they vocally, actively oppose.

They have VERY little power compared to actual teacher unions in other states. It's funny to hear people complain about teacher "unions" here because they clearly have no experience with real teacher unions.

For the 1000th time. They will be a fully fledged Union in May.

Collective bargaining, backing from NEA national, etc.

Kim Adams speaks for the teachers of Fairfax County.

In terms of influence, Virginia “teacher unions” are inching their way up from the very bottom of the barrel. Once collective bargaining is no longer banned that is a step in the right direction, but they still have a LONG way to go to close the gap on unions with strong influence.
https://nccft.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20121029-Union-Strength-Full-Report_7_0.pdf
Pages 11-12

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not unions in Virginia as it is a Right to Work state. In other areas of the country, the teachers unions negotiate the contract for teachers in that jurisdiction. In FCPS, the County dictates the contract and each teacher signs a contract with the county. In FCPS, benefits like pensions and healthcare are also provided through the county and state and not the union.

The "unions" act as associations in Virginia, but they have no real say in the contract and benefits the county offers the teachers.

You are confusing a "union", which is an organization of workers dedicated to advancing workers' interests, with an "exclusive bargaining entity", which is a legal status a union assumes when an employer choses to or is compelled to bargain with them.

In VA, for now, teachers' unions are not exclusive bargaining entities (laws will be changing in May but it won't be automatic). They are still capable of exerting considerable influence, however. They collect dues, provide benefits to members, donate to campaigns, make endorsements, organize their members to turn out to vote, and if managed well can have a lot of clout in local politics.

It's strange to me. There's a group out there that calls itself a union, that is clearly mobilizing its members against a policy and claiming to speak for them. Yet some people get all bent out of shape when anyone tries to blame the union for the inability to implement a policy that they vocally, actively oppose.

They have VERY little power compared to actual teacher unions in other states. It's funny to hear people complain about teacher "unions" here because they clearly have no experience with real teacher unions.

For the 1000th time. They will be a fully fledged Union in May.

Collective bargaining, backing from NEA national, etc.

Kim Adams speaks for the teachers of Fairfax County.

In terms of influence, Virginia “teacher unions” are inching their way up from the very bottom of the barrel. Once collective bargaining is no longer banned that is a step in the right direction, but they still have a LONG way to go to close the gap on unions with strong influence.
https://nccft.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20121029-Union-Strength-Full-Report_7_0.pdf
Pages 11-12

Anything that raises my salary and reduces my workload is always welcome.

Crazy parents who make 6-7 figures thinking we’re indentured servants refrain from commenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yep, that is what you believe because your tiny little brain is incapable of processing a cause effect chain that doesn’t have a cartoon character villain. It is called scapegoating. They did it to the Jews before WWII.

There are lots of historical examples that can be used when explaining how regimes silence people. Using Nazi analogies and the Holocaust is a step too far.

Maybe, try Venezuela or Russia.

I completely disagree. People need to be reminded of the Holocaust. They need to remember what a “step too far” can look like. Scapegoating is not just silencing people; it is dehumanizing them, denigrating them, isolating them. I see that happening on social media all the time and if you don’t, wake up! You should be alarmed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not unions in Virginia as it is a Right to Work state. In other areas of the country, the teachers unions negotiate the contract for teachers in that jurisdiction. In FCPS, the County dictates the contract and each teacher signs a contract with the county. In FCPS, benefits like pensions and healthcare are also provided through the county and state and not the union.

The "unions" act as associations in Virginia, but they have no real say in the contract and benefits the county offers the teachers.

You are confusing a "union", which is an organization of workers dedicated to advancing workers' interests, with an "exclusive bargaining entity", which is a legal status a union assumes when an employer choses to or is compelled to bargain with them.

In VA, for now, teachers' unions are not exclusive bargaining entities (laws will be changing in May but it won't be automatic). They are still capable of exerting considerable influence, however. They collect dues, provide benefits to members, donate to campaigns, make endorsements, organize their members to turn out to vote, and if managed well can have a lot of clout in local politics.

It's strange to me. There's a group out there that calls itself a union, that is clearly mobilizing its members against a policy and claiming to speak for them. Yet some people get all bent out of shape when anyone tries to blame the union for the inability to implement a policy that they vocally, actively oppose.

They have VERY little power compared to actual teacher unions in other states. It's funny to hear people complain about teacher "unions" here because they clearly have no experience with real teacher unions.

For the 1000th time. They will be a fully fledged Union in May.

Collective bargaining, backing from NEA national, etc.

Kim Adams speaks for the teachers of Fairfax County.

In terms of influence, Virginia “teacher unions” are inching their way up from the very bottom of the barrel. Once collective bargaining is no longer banned that is a step in the right direction, but they still have a LONG way to go to close the gap on unions with strong influence.
https://nccft.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20121029-Union-Strength-Full-Report_7_0.pdf
Pages 11-12

Anything that raises my salary and reduces my workload is always welcome.

Crazy parents who make 6-7 figures thinking we’re indentured servants refrain from commenting.

We are behind Georgia? What the hell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not unions in Virginia as it is a Right to Work state. In other areas of the country, the teachers unions negotiate the contract for teachers in that jurisdiction. In FCPS, the County dictates the contract and each teacher signs a contract with the county. In FCPS, benefits like pensions and healthcare are also provided through the county and state and not the union.

The "unions" act as associations in Virginia, but they have no real say in the contract and benefits the county offers the teachers.

You are confusing a "union", which is an organization of workers dedicated to advancing workers' interests, with an "exclusive bargaining entity", which is a legal status a union assumes when an employer choses to or is compelled to bargain with them.

In VA, for now, teachers' unions are not exclusive bargaining entities (laws will be changing in May but it won't be automatic). They are still capable of exerting considerable influence, however. They collect dues, provide benefits to members, donate to campaigns, make endorsements, organize their members to turn out to vote, and if managed well can have a lot of clout in local politics.

It's strange to me. There's a group out there that calls itself a union, that is clearly mobilizing its members against a policy and claiming to speak for them. Yet some people get all bent out of shape when anyone tries to blame the union for the inability to implement a policy that they vocally, actively oppose.

They have VERY little power compared to actual teacher unions in other states. It's funny to hear people complain about teacher "unions" here because they clearly have no experience with real teacher unions.

For the 1000th time. They will be a fully fledged Union in May.

Collective bargaining, backing from NEA national, etc.

Kim Adams speaks for the teachers of Fairfax County.

In terms of influence, Virginia “teacher unions” are inching their way up from the very bottom of the barrel. Once collective bargaining is no longer banned that is a step in the right direction, but they still have a LONG way to go to close the gap on unions with strong influence.
https://nccft.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20121029-Union-Strength-Full-Report_7_0.pdf
Pages 11-12

Anything that raises my salary and reduces my workload is always welcome.

Crazy parents who make 6-7 figures thinking we’re indentured servants refrain from commenting.

We are behind Georgia? What the hell?

Maybe I should look for a job in Montgomery County. How do teachers fare there, anecdotally speaking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am teacher and I am so confused about this collective that I am supposed to be a part of. Is it a union or not? What makes an association a true union?
Right now all I know is that some woman I don’t know and who seems a bit ”batscheize” gets to speak “for teachers” at SB meetings. Why does she get to speak? Because nowhere on her Christmas list of demands are the things I would ask for - smaller class sizes, real textbooks, better working conditions (cleaner, ventilated), and unfrozen step increases.

I have a strong feeling this FEA lady gets to speak because she DOES ask for stupid, unreasonable stuff no one wants and she gives Braband an easy target. I don’t know.

I’d like to go back to school and teach. What is the hold up? The concurrent equipment they need so they can accommodate everyone and make everyone equally detest school? The “required distancing” we know they can’t do because, c’mon, my school is overflowing. The vaccines that are stalled?

Apparently, WaPo and the community seem to think teachers are on some sort of “strike” - a strike of LOAs and ADAs. Well, why did leadership grant so many of them if this was going to be such a problem?

Yeah, so I will just go back to teaching through the computer while you all figure this out. I am doing the best I can.

OP, we worked at the state level and locally for smaller class sizes and real textbooks and better ventilation and it was the teacher's unions and the current school board that fought against these or at least wouldn't support them in full. And the republicans wouldn't support extra money although agreed in principle. They wanted other things cut first. Each side likes to use these things as tools/weapons to get their pet projects approved.

Why would “the union” work against you? Who are these people and why do they get to represent “teachers?” What gives them that authority?
We absolutely need smaller class sizes. That would be issue number one on my wish list.

Lol. That would require the union to actually care about instruction. They only care about making it hard to fire bad teachers (I mean, seriously, why is tenure a thing for school age teachers!); obtaining as many “training days” as possible (because you know, teachers are hourly workers - NOT); ensuring high pay (yes they are very well paid here); and generous benefits (hello: pension!).

I say this as someone who is not a member of a union...
1. No tenure in VA. You are on "continuing contract" after three years, but you can be placed on evaluation at any point. Otherwise you do a formal evaluation process every three years.
2. Teachers pretty universally hate these "training days." They are never actually relevant to our jobs.
3. Ha. Our pay keeps getting frozen and health care costs just go up.
4. This generous pension you speak of is no longer in existence for new-ish hires to FCPS. It is now a defined benefit plan like most employers have these days.

Yep. It sucks. We have no real union, and yet we get shit on for what we don’t have. I think i may move to another county.

Or, you could stay here until May when the start collective bargaining on your behalf.

Is that really going to happen? I am just really disillusioned. I feel like I really sold myself short working here, and that is not a good feeling. Plus, I can never get in touch with HR. I guess they are busy processing all those LOAs and ADAs because they haven’t managed to cancel the life insurance policy I asked them to stop FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE LAST FEBRUARY and for which I now pay 50 bucks a month for. I hate them.

Do you not have electronic access to your benefits to change this on your own?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not unions in Virginia as it is a Right to Work state. In other areas of the country, the teachers unions negotiate the contract for teachers in that jurisdiction. In FCPS, the County dictates the contract and each teacher signs a contract with the county. In FCPS, benefits like pensions and healthcare are also provided through the county and state and not the union.

The "unions" act as associations in Virginia, but they have no real say in the contract and benefits the county offers the teachers.

You are confusing a "union", which is an organization of workers dedicated to advancing workers' interests, with an "exclusive bargaining entity", which is a legal status a union assumes when an employer choses to or is compelled to bargain with them.

In VA, for now, teachers' unions are not exclusive bargaining entities (laws will be changing in May but it won't be automatic). They are still capable of exerting considerable influence, however. They collect dues, provide benefits to members, donate to campaigns, make endorsements, organize their members to turn out to vote, and if managed well can have a lot of clout in local politics.

It's strange to me. There's a group out there that calls itself a union, that is clearly mobilizing its members against a policy and claiming to speak for them. Yet some people get all bent out of shape when anyone tries to blame the union for the inability to implement a policy that they vocally, actively oppose.

They have VERY little power compared to actual teacher unions in other states. It's funny to hear people complain about teacher "unions" here because they clearly have no experience with real teacher unions.

For the 1000th time. They will be a fully fledged Union in May.

Collective bargaining, backing from NEA national, etc.

Kim Adams speaks for the teachers of Fairfax County.

In terms of influence, Virginia “teacher unions” are inching their way up from the very bottom of the barrel. Once collective bargaining is no longer banned that is a step in the right direction, but they still have a LONG way to go to close the gap on unions with strong influence.
https://nccft.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20121029-Union-Strength-Full-Report_7_0.pdf
Pages 11-12

Anything that raises my salary and reduces my workload is always welcome.

Crazy parents who make 6-7 figures thinking we’re indentured servants refrain from commenting.

As a parent, I pro strong teacher unions. I’m from an area with top schools and the teachers play a big part in that. Teachers having a voice is better for everyone.

VA is full of people who don’t value schools (when it comes to taxes & spending) and “freedom” types. Fortunately, the population is changing. Hope we eventually prioritize schools as much as other areas do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am teacher and I am so confused about this collective that I am supposed to be a part of. Is it a union or not? What makes an association a true union?
Right now all I know is that some woman I don’t know and who seems a bit ”batscheize” gets to speak “for teachers” at SB meetings. Why does she get to speak? Because nowhere on her Christmas list of demands are the things I would ask for - smaller class sizes, real textbooks, better working conditions (cleaner, ventilated), and unfrozen step increases.

I have a strong feeling this FEA lady gets to speak because she DOES ask for stupid, unreasonable stuff no one wants and she gives Braband an easy target. I don’t know.

I’d like to go back to school and teach. What is the hold up? The concurrent equipment they need so they can accommodate everyone and make everyone equally detest school? The “required distancing” we know they can’t do because, c’mon, my school is overflowing. The vaccines that are stalled?

Apparently, WaPo and the community seem to think teachers are on some sort of “strike” - a strike of LOAs and ADAs. Well, why did leadership grant so many of them if this was going to be such a problem?

Yeah, so I will just go back to teaching through the computer while you all figure this out. I am doing the best I can.

OP, we worked at the state level and locally for smaller class sizes and real textbooks and better ventilation and it was the teacher's unions and the current school board that fought against these or at least wouldn't support them in full. And the republicans wouldn't support extra money although agreed in principle. They wanted other things cut first. Each side likes to use these things as tools/weapons to get their pet projects approved.

Why would “the union” work against you? Who are these people and why do they get to represent “teachers?” What gives them that authority?
We absolutely need smaller class sizes. That would be issue number one on my wish list.

Lol. That would require the union to actually care about instruction. They only care about making it hard to fire bad teachers (I mean, seriously, why is tenure a thing for school age teachers!); obtaining as many “training days” as possible (because you know, teachers are hourly workers - NOT); ensuring high pay (yes they are very well paid here); and generous benefits (hello: pension!).

I say this as someone who is not a member of a union...
1. No tenure in VA. You are on "continuing contract" after three years, but you can be placed on evaluation at any point. Otherwise you do a formal evaluation process every three years.
2. Teachers pretty universally hate these "training days." They are never actually relevant to our jobs.
3. Ha. Our pay keeps getting frozen and health care costs just go up.
4. This generous pension you speak of is no longer in existence for new-ish hires to FCPS. It is now a defined benefit plan like most employers have these days.

Yep. It sucks. We have no real union, and yet we get shit on for what we don’t have. I think i may move to another county.

Or, you could stay here until May when the start collective bargaining on your behalf.

Is that really going to happen? I am just really disillusioned. I feel like I really sold myself short working here, and that is not a good feeling. Plus, I can never get in touch with HR. I guess they are busy processing all those LOAs and ADAs because they haven’t managed to cancel the life insurance policy I asked them to stop FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE LAST FEBRUARY and for which I now pay 50 bucks a month for. I hate them.

Yep. FCPS Administration sucks. But also, how is that as an FCPS parent, I’ve been nervously eyeing this for a while and you don’t know it. This was HuGE for VA teachers and dominated the SB election scene. And is where Karl Fritch’s war chest came from. Cohen’s too, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree it is shocking to see so many teachers not realize that we are 4 months way from Kim Adams / FEA being sanctioned to speak on their behalf.

I to am a union member (ALPA) and have been very active within the union only to bring a moderate voice to leadership (I hate the work). But if membership is not willing to fight to have the groups voice properly heard then you only get the radicals speaking on your behalf.

So again, you can say FEA / Kim Adams is some sort of crazy who does not represent you. But unless you get involved you are at her will.

Then why is she speaking for me now? I am thinking I would rather unionize so I can get fair representation. THIS is not fair representation and it is the SB and leadership who have allowed her to speak with an authority she does not have.

Seriously, it’s like they decided to give us the crap lawyer so we never win anything significant. She is the bozo they appointed to represent us because she is a bozo.

Okay, I don’t actually mean to hate on this human being so much in such a schoolyard bully kind of way, but she is really pissing me off.

Collective bargaining will begin to be phased in in May.

Passing the school board is a done deal.

Teachers will then get to vote on what association will assume collective bargaining for the group.

FEA is backed by NEA, now the assumption is that they will be the association that is voted in. However I like so many others would LOVE to see the teachers prevent that from happening.

However that takes coordination and organization. Hopefully some people step up and take the lead.

NEA has all the money and all the organization and all the power FCPS is a huge get for them. And they literally ran their candidates for school board. They have put so much into this for so long. There is no way they aren’t the union chosen. And, of course they will be certified. COVID made it easier, because they will promise the moon on fall reopening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not unions in Virginia as it is a Right to Work state. In other areas of the country, the teachers unions negotiate the contract for teachers in that jurisdiction. In FCPS, the County dictates the contract and each teacher signs a contract with the county. In FCPS, benefits like pensions and healthcare are also provided through the county and state and not the union.

The "unions" act as associations in Virginia, but they have no real say in the contract and benefits the county offers the teachers.

Catch up. The legislature voted to allow teachers to unionize and have collective bargaining starting this spring.

They voted to allow it - that doesn't mean it is happening. It almost certainly will, but as of right now nothing has changed. The teachers need to select a union, for one thing, and then that union has to be certified to represent them. I'm not even sure any step in that process has happened.

Correct. I’ve mentioned this too. The unions are jockeying, but no other steps have happened.

I mean yes, in the same way Godzilla jockeys with ants.

PS— step one: if you don’t join the union, some crazy parent will sue you personally for something you didn’t do, and we alone can make it better. That’s their opening pitch. It’s BS. But it freaks teachers out and scares them into joining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

VA is full of people who don’t value schools

FEA is leading the race for those in VA that don’t value schools by a wide margin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not unions in Virginia as it is a Right to Work state. In other areas of the country, the teachers unions negotiate the contract for teachers in that jurisdiction. In FCPS, the County dictates the contract and each teacher signs a contract with the county. In FCPS, benefits like pensions and healthcare are also provided through the county and state and not the union.

The "unions" act as associations in Virginia, but they have no real say in the contract and benefits the county offers the teachers.

You are confusing a "union", which is an organization of workers dedicated to advancing workers' interests, with an "exclusive bargaining entity", which is a legal status a union assumes when an employer choses to or is compelled to bargain with them.

In VA, for now, teachers' unions are not exclusive bargaining entities (laws will be changing in May but it won't be automatic). They are still capable of exerting considerable influence, however. They collect dues, provide benefits to members, donate to campaigns, make endorsements, organize their members to turn out to vote, and if managed well can have a lot of clout in local politics.

It's strange to me. There's a group out there that calls itself a union, that is clearly mobilizing its members against a policy and claiming to speak for them. Yet some people get all bent out of shape when anyone tries to blame the union for the inability to implement a policy that they vocally, actively oppose.

They have VERY little power compared to actual teacher unions in other states. It's funny to hear people complain about teacher "unions" here because they clearly have no experience with real teacher unions.

For the 1000th time. They will be a fully fledged Union in May.

Collective bargaining, backing from NEA national, etc.

Kim Adams speaks for the teachers of Fairfax County.

In terms of influence, Virginia “teacher unions” are inching their way up from the very bottom of the barrel. Once collective bargaining is no longer banned that is a step in the right direction, but they still have a LONG way to go to close the gap on unions with strong influence.
https://nccft.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20121029-Union-Strength-Full-Report_7_0.pdf
Pages 11-12

Anything that raises my salary and reduces my workload is always welcome.

Crazy parents who make 6-7 figures thinking we’re indentured servants refrain from commenting.

They may raise your salary marginally. But it will be offset by marginally larger classes. Those of you who weren’t here for recession budgeting may want to refresh your memories on school funding in a bad economy. They will reduce your workload by instructing you to never lift a finger outside your contact hours. But, they won’t be doing anything tangible to help on that front. You won’t get the right to strike if you reach an impasse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not unions in Virginia as it is a Right to Work state. In other areas of the country, the teachers unions negotiate the contract for teachers in that jurisdiction. In FCPS, the County dictates the contract and each teacher signs a contract with the county. In FCPS, benefits like pensions and healthcare are also provided through the county and state and not the union.

The "unions" act as associations in Virginia, but they have no real say in the contract and benefits the county offers the teachers.

You are confusing a "union", which is an organization of workers dedicated to advancing workers' interests, with an "exclusive bargaining entity", which is a legal status a union assumes when an employer choses to or is compelled to bargain with them.

In VA, for now, teachers' unions are not exclusive bargaining entities (laws will be changing in May but it won't be automatic). They are still capable of exerting considerable influence, however. They collect dues, provide benefits to members, donate to campaigns, make endorsements, organize their members to turn out to vote, and if managed well can have a lot of clout in local politics.

It's strange to me. There's a group out there that calls itself a union, that is clearly mobilizing its members against a policy and claiming to speak for them. Yet some people get all bent out of shape when anyone tries to blame the union for the inability to implement a policy that they vocally, actively oppose.

They have VERY little power compared to actual teacher unions in other states. It's funny to hear people complain about teacher "unions" here because they clearly have no experience with real teacher unions.

For the 1000th time. They will be a fully fledged Union in May.

Collective bargaining, backing from NEA national, etc.

Kim Adams speaks for the teachers of Fairfax County.

In terms of influence, Virginia “teacher unions” are inching their way up from the very bottom of the barrel. Once collective bargaining is no longer banned that is a step in the right direction, but they still have a LONG way to go to close the gap on unions with strong influence.
https://nccft.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20121029-Union-Strength-Full-Report_7_0.pdf
Pages 11-12

Anything that raises my salary and reduces my workload is always welcome.

Crazy parents who make 6-7 figures thinking we’re indentured servants refrain from commenting.

As a parent, I pro strong teacher unions. I’m from an area with top schools and the teachers play a big part in that. Teachers having a voice is better for everyone.

VA is full of people who don’t value schools (when it comes to taxes & spending) and “freedom” types. Fortunately, the population is changing. Hope we eventually prioritize schools as much as other areas do.

You are in this forum and think NOVA (not ROVA) doesn’t prioritize schools. Seriously? Education is a full contact sport here. If anything, we need to take a step back, especially in the TJ feeders and HSs.