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Teamster Jeff

(1,598 posts)
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 07:01 PM Apr 2013

The Attack on Unions: Which Side Are You On?

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In state after state, legislatures have wiped out collective bargaining rights. That meant teachers would have no voice in the funding of public schools or their working conditions. Teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions.

The so-called reformers are closing public schools and turning the students over to private corporations. 90% of charters are non-union.

The questions that I keep asking are, where was Barack Obama as the efforts to destroy America’s workers gained momentum? Why didn’t he go to Madison in the spring of 2011? Why did he go instead at the very height of the Wisconsin protests to hail Jeb Bush in Miami as “a champion of education reform?”

Why did his Secretary of Education effusively praise some of the most anti-union, anti-teacher state commissioners of education in the nation, like John White in Louisiana and Hanna Skandera in New Mexico? Why have Secretary Duncan and President Obama said nothing in opposition to the attacks on teachers, the mass closure of public schools, and the growing for-profit sector in education? Why was the Democratic National Convention of 2012 held in North Carolina, a right-to-work state? When was the last time that the Democratic Party held its convention in a right to work state?
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http://dianeravitch.net/2013/04/22/the-attack-on-unions-which-side-are-you-on/

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Vincardog

(20,234 posts)
1. PBO was selected to give the PTB a pass on their banking crimes and assist in their corporate agenda
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 07:05 PM
Apr 2013

His choice of cabinet, and appointments provide ample evidence.

Newest Reality

(12,712 posts)
3. I would prefer
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 07:08 PM
Apr 2013

that more people collectively own the business they work for and then you get to bypass the middle-man and circumvent the corporate tyranny that's eating us all like a big bag of human Doritos.

Meanwhile, without representation for workers and bargaining power well ... we are seeing how that goes. Third-world here we come!

Welcome to the Fiefdom. Meet your new Lord, Master Koch! All bow and work harder.

 

HockeyMom

(14,337 posts)
4. Pro Union, but
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 07:09 PM
Apr 2013

if you live in the south in a right to work state, unions mean nothing even in public service.

 

MotherPetrie

(3,145 posts)
5. Up with unions, down with Arne Duncan! His continued employment by the Obama administration
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 07:12 PM
Apr 2013

is one of the many stains on it.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
6. I think almost my entire local is Green or DSA over stuff exactly like this.
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 11:10 PM
Apr 2013

I know it's received wisdom on DU to refer to anyone who strays from the fold as a crypto-republican, but I know a lot of unhappy teachers IRL.

Skeeter Barnes

(994 posts)
7. Both parties will destroy our public school system and the teachers Unions
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 12:31 AM
Apr 2013

just like they are destroying the US Postal Service. Destruction of the Unions is one of the goals but the ultimate goal is running it into the ground so they can sell it off to their cronies.

There is nobody to vote for. Hoping for politicians like Barack Obama to take up our cause is a waste of time.

Like Chris Hedges said, there is no way to vote against the banks and there is no way to vote against permanent war.

Stop identifying with your boss and stick up for your fellow workers, instead! We're all we've got left! Organize!

Pat Riot

(446 posts)
8. It's self destructive not to be pro union
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:10 PM
Apr 2013

Not just because of education (which we in PA have seen our p.o.s. governor systematically destroy while he and his cronies profit from charter and cyber schools, which under-perform) but because since the disastrous Citizens United decisions, unions are the only thing left big and strong enough to stand up for the average Joe.

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