Nothing new here. Still: fellow instructors, you might want to read Big Money Talks (pdf), a 2010 report of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, which lists fifteen entities that, all together in a ten year period (starting January 1, 2000), spent $1 billion “on candidates, ballot measures and lobbying to influence the outcome of governmental decisions in California” (p. 4).On top of the list, as expected, is the California Teachers Association (CTA), of which our own SOCCCD Faculty Association is a chapter. (“Of the 15 identified groups, six are corporations, three are Indian tribes, two are labor unions and four are business associations.” P. 4)
CTA spent nearly twice the amount of the second biggest spender on the list, the California State Council of Service Employees (a close third: the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America).
As you know, teachers unions are widely viewed as the greatest obstacles to education reform in the nation’s K-12 systems. It seems to me that anger toward such organizations as CTA is growing among the electorate.
California Community College Locals and Contracts -- Shows all CTA (NEA) affiliates, CFT (AFT) affiliates, and affiliates of the CCI (The California Community College Independents) among California community colleges.
California Teachers Association (CTA) an affiliate of the NEA
Community College Association -- (CCA) The community college division of the CTA (NEA)
California Federation of Teachers (CFT) an affiliate of the AFT
Community College Council -- (CCC) The community college division of the CFT (AFT)
California Community College Independents (CCCI)
44 CCA/CTA/NEA chapters
12 CCCI/Independent chapters
(Note: five chapters are for part-timers only)
My own view (still forming, actually) is that, for both principled and practical reasons, we should separate from the CTA.
CFT (and AFT) is probably less problematic (than CCA/CTA/NEA).
But there's a problem: it appears that the (CTA's) CCA and the (CFT's) CCC are merging, something that's been in the works for some time:
Merger talks between CCA and CCC progress (CTA publication)
What about CCCI? As you can see above, CCCI comprises about a dozen chapters among California community colleges.
5 comments:
Roy writes, "My own view (still forming, actually) is that, for both principled and practical reasons, we should separate the from CTA."
You should rethink this one.
Start with Kant's categorical imperative: What if everyone were to do the same?
What do you think our jobs would be like, and what do you think public education would be like in California if every teachers union in the entire state were a small, local, independent union?
Big money DOES talk, and that's why we need a powerful statewide organization.
--100 miles down the road
Waiting for Superman...
Teachers in Finland, the country lauded in Waiting for Superman for its superior system of public education, are unionized.
What's left out of the documentary is that if you look at middle-class schools in the US (defined as those schools with fewer than 10% of students on free or reduced-price lunches), we're among the best in the world.
Child poverty rates in Finland are around 4%. In the US, they're about 25%. The problem with public education in this country isn't poorly-performing teachers or unions, it's poverty.
To learn more, google Stephen Krashen (who used to teach at UC Irvine) and take a look at his website.
--100 miles
That's it????
Apparently, affiliation with CCA/CTA, AFT, or CCCI is a non-issue.
That's good.
--100 miles down the road
Yep, that's it. That's all of it.
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