In the 2008 election cycle, California Teachers Association (CTA) made an executive decision to use teacher union dues to support an initiative without a vote from CTA Representatives.
I am a public school teacher and an union representative for my school. I believe in collaborative bargaining at the local level and have supported the efforts my union has made for my profession.
But I do question CTA's motives when they have made decisions that go outside that boundary. Do read the below letter that speaks to this issue.
It is important to stay active and be involved,
Lydia Gutierrez Candidate for State Superintendent, 2010
California Teachers Association
P.O. Box 921
1705 Murchison Drive
Burlingame, CA 94011-0921
April 28, 2009 (OPEN LETTER)
Dear David Sanchez, President
I am a CTA member in good standing. I am becoming alarmed that my dues are not being used in the most beneficial way in supporting my profession but are being used to undermine my ethics, and those of my classroom children's parents.
Throughout the State, many businesses are closing down; companies are down sizing, leaving many of my parents without the ability to pay for their own basic needs. During this time, many of our colleagues throughout this State are facing the same situation.
I am offended that CTA, our organization, has not taken any steps of down sizing, and lessening the financial burden of our dues but in fact increasing it by $22. Yet, even our own union, TALB, has been fiscally responsible in the process of paying off our debt while not increasing our dues.
I am also outraged to learn that much of our political action dues are being used to undermine the civil rights of parents by endorsing propositions that may oppose their family values.
* CTA endorsed “No” Proposition 8 - $1.3 million dollars
* CTA endorsed “No” Proposition 4 (Parental Notification) – $615, 000
* CTA has endorsed SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Holiday(Caesar Chavez has done more for the working class of this State and Country then the one named above, this is offensive to the families of my students.)
It is known that many letters were written by CTA Teachers for the outrage in knowing their dues were being used for Propositions 8 and 4 that had nothing to do with the teaching profession. By CTA’s endorsement of SB 572, you have completely ignored again the voice of the teachers you claim to represent.
I found it deceptive that in September 2008, you came up with a suggestion of how we could be supportive of education by donating $20 to the CTA Foundation for Teaching and Learning or to CTA Advocacy Efforts. You made the requirement that to not support the idea we had to respond by a signed document with our code number or it would automatically be taken out by a certain date. You then spent money to mail back the $20 to all the people who signed no because you had already taken it out.
This kind of method is used because there will always be a percentage that will forget to do it or didn’t get the information. It was also found out that anyone who did sign up, thinking it was a one time deal, continues to pay until they themselves say stop.
You are being paid to look out for the welfare of our profession, not your own particular special interest, which I believe those listed above do.
I believe you can get rid of Human Rights Community Outreach at $15.64 because we are, as teachers, the best advocates for human rights. Before you asked for this extra $20, you had already many of the advocacies, foundations, and scholarship and grant programs in place. This is called double dipping. For example, the Human Rights Community Outreach is stated again in the GLBT to promote human and civil rights.
Three times you have used the word “Governance” in describing why you need so much money to do your job.
*Governance $26.64 - 4.3%
*Governance Relations $21.75 – 3.5%
*Service Departments $87.05 – 14.0% (a percentage of it is for Governance Support- it is not stated how much)
One of the major reasons monies do not get into the classroom is because of bureaucracies being so large and often over paid that the kids and teachers lose out. This looks like the making of a big government, instead of an organization that has our interest at heart.
You have given no substantial reasons for your increase of dues, especially with the economic down turn our State is experiencing, but the underlying tone of your own self interest.
As a paying member of CTA, I demand to know immediately what bills, initiatives, measures or propositions you are considering to endorse before endorsement. I would like our CTA Representatives to come back and inform us so that we can give input from the teachers who give you a pay check.
Sincerely,
Lydia Gutierrez
CTA Member
