The Teachers Unions Faux Grassroots Organizing

By Larry Sand
07/12/2016
The Hedge Clippers, a union run and organized group, laughably pretends to be grassroots. The Hedge Clippers, born last year, is an anti-capitalist, left-wing, purportedly grassroots organization whose focus is on exposing “the mechanisms hedge funds and billionaires use to influence government and politics in order to expand their wealth, influence and power.” The group received...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, Citizens United, Dark money, Eva Moskowitz, Harlem Success Academy, Larry Sand, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, Prop. 30, Randi Weingarten, teachers union, United Federation of Teachers

Tales from the Unions’ Dark (Money) Side

By Larry Sand
09/02/2014
The unions preen and posture as political underdogs, but nothing could be further from the truth. Thanks to the teachers unions and the American left, the term “dark money” – political spending by groups whose own donors are allowed to remain hidden – is most closely associated with two successful industrialists from Kansas – the...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Citizens United, Democracy Alliance, George Soros, John Stocks, Koch Brothers, Larry Sand, Massachusetts Teachers Association, National Education Association, Randi Weingarten, teachers union

Union “Hubrocrisy”

By Larry Sand
07/29/2014
Teachers unions reside at the corner of Hubris St. and Hypocrisy Ave.  A few days ago, Politico’s Stephanie Simon wrote about a new teachers union get-out-the-vote strategy. Attempting to regain some of their political turf as the midterm elections approach, they’re fighting back by utilizing their most obvious asset: teachers. Backed by tens of millions...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Citizens United, Larry Sand, Massachusetts Teachers Association, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, teachers union

The Teachers Unions’ Supreme Chutzpah

By Larry Sand
04/08/2014
NEA and AFT leaders cavil at Supreme Court decision that eases rules on political funding. Nothing gives me an advanced case of the vapors quicker than the subject of political campaign finance laws. Trying to figure out who can give how much to whom and when, and how many dollars can be donated to a...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, Citizens United, Dennis Van Roekel, Larry Sand, National Education Association, Randi Weingarten, Supreme Court, teachers union

Union Watch Highlights

By Editor
10/15/2013
Here are links to the top stories available online over the past week reporting on union activity including legislation, financial impact, reform activism, etc., from California and across the USA. The next, next Citizens United By Reid Wilson, October 15, 2013, Washington Post Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in McCutcheon v....

TAGS: Citizens United

National Education Association Admits Things Will Never Be the Same

By Larry Sand
07/10/2012
The nation’s biggest union finds itself in a big hole and keeps digging. In his excellent book, Special Interest: Teachers Unions and Americas Public Schools, published a little more than a year ago, Terry Moe posited that the teachers unions would meet their end via two routes – Democrats joining Republicans, thus making education reform...

TAGS: California Teachers Association, Citizens United, D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, Dennis Van Roekel, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, SB 1530, teachers union, Terry Moe, vouchers