Why Bankers and Public Sector Unions are Allies, not Enemies

By Editor
08/13/2013
Earlier this week former state senator Gloria Romero published a lengthy article in the San Diego Union-Tribune entitled “Fixing California: The union chokehold.” Reprinted with permission on UnionWatch, it describes how public sector unions, virtually unopposed, have undermined the effectiveness and overpriced the costs of government at all levels in California. Romero, a liberal Democrat...

TAGS: Gloria Romero, teachers union

Right-to-Work Rights and Wrongs

By Larry Sand
08/13/2013
Teachers union treasurer perpetuates myths about worker freedom. The term “right-to-work” (RTW) very simply means that workers don’t have to pay dues to a union as a condition of employment. In the U.S., there are 24 such states and 26 where paying dues to a union  is required in many workplaces. The unions, with all...

TAGS: Arlene Inouye, Bob Peterson, California Charter School Association, collective bargaining, Larry Sand, National Education Association, National Right to Work Foundation, Right to Work, Scott Walker, teachers union, United Teachers of Los Angeles, Wisconsin Education Association Council

“I’m Randi Weingarten and Now, the Fake News.”

By Larry Sand
07/30/2013
Teachers union makes news with meaningless words and a misleading poll. Norm MacDonald is famous for opening the comedic news segment on Saturday Night Live by introducing himself and telling the audience that it’s time for the “fake news.” I thought of this when, at the recent American Federation of Teachers convention, President Randi Weingarten...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Cato Institute, EAG, Jason Bedrick, Larry Sand, Lindsey Burke, Michelle Rhee, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, Randi Weingarten, Stephen Sawchuk, teachers union, The Heritage Foundation, Valerie Strauss

Kill ‘Em or Unionize ‘Em

By Larry Sand
07/09/2013
As charter schools have become more popular than ever, teachers unions dither about how to deal with them. Though there are now over 6,000 charter schools in the U.S., including 1,000 in California, it’s not nearly enough to satisfy demand, as parents have awakened to the fact that many traditional public schools aren’t doing the...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, California Charter School Association, California Teachers Association, Charter schools, Larry Sand, Mike Antonucci, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, National Education Association, Randi Weingarten, teachers union

Homeschool Home Run

By Larry Sand
06/18/2013
An Education News report tells us that homeschooling is thriving. In a recent report, we learn that since 1999, the number of children who are homeschooled has increased by 75 percent. Though homeschooled children represent only 4 percent (about 2 million) of all school-age children nationwide, they are growing seven times faster than the number...

TAGS: A.J. Duffy, California Teachers Association, Eric Hanushek, Home School Legal Defense Association, homeschooling, Larry Sand, teachers union, United Teachers of Los Angeles

Workers of the World, Your Rights!

By Larry Sand
06/11/2013
A week in June is being promoted to advise workers of their right to opt out of union membership. Unknown to many employees throughout the country – especially in non-right-to-work states – they have a right to not belong to a union. This year, June 23rd – 29th is being dedicated to informing America’s wage...

TAGS: agency fee payer, California Teachers Empowerment Network, Heritage Foundation, James Sherk, Larry Sand, Mike Antonucci, National Employee Freedom Week, National Right to Work Foundation, Nevada Policy Research Institute, Right to Work, teachers union

The Parent Revolution and the Ancien Régime

By Larry Sand
06/04/2013
The ongoing battle between parents and the union-dominated education blob heats up in California. California state senator Gloria Romero’s Parent Trigger law has been around for over three years now, and its progress has been slow but steady. The law stipulates that if 50 percent +1 of the parents of children in a failing school...

TAGS: Alexander Russo, American Federation of Teachers, Ben Austin, California Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, Diane Ravitch, Gloria Romero, Larry Sand, Parent Trigger, Randi Weingarten, Rick Hess, RiShawn Biddle, teachers union, United Teachers of Los Angeles, Warren Fletcher, Whitney Tilson

Lemon Raid

By Larry Sand
05/21/2013
Los Angeles school chief puts children’s needs over those of 600 sadists, pedophiles and assorted creeps. The teachers union is outraged. In any other field, getting rid of misbehaving or poorly performing employees is a natural and ongoing occurrence. Business leaders who don’t set standards and hold workers accountable will see their clientele shrink. But...

TAGS: Alex Padilla, John Deasy, Larry Sand, Los Angeles Unified School District, SB 1530, teachers union, UTLA

Mothers Against Bunk Jiving

By Larry Sand
05/14/2013
Teacher union twaddle is not fooling the nation’s moms any more. National Education Association president Dennis Van Roekel wrote a tired piece for Huffington Post last week in which he trotted out all the usual phrases and suspects that we have come to expect from a union boss who is trying to scare us into...

TAGS: American Legislative Exchange Council, Dennis Van Roekel, Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, Greg Forster, Larry Sand, National Education Association, school choice, teachers union, vouchers