Thursday, February 24, 2011

This Is Why Teacher Unions Arfe Scared: Protect Lavish Lifestyles Of Union Leaders

If I have said it once, I have said it hundreds of times (and I have), the reason why unions are scared of Scott Walker's proposal is because the government will not longer collect union dues from workers and then turnaround and pay the unions. If this comes to pass, union dues will plummet and this would end the lavish life styles of the union leaders.
An example from biggovernment.com: As nearly 5,000 city teachers face the ax, their union shells out millions of dollars on feasting, boozing and partying, the Daily News has learned.
Free-spending United Federation of Teachers brass last year spent nearly $1.4 million for the UFT’s 50th anniversary gala at the Hilton – complete with a movie, a book and a paperweight.
Records show they:
Ponied up $514,000 to 16 separate caterers.
Dropped $278,417 on the annual Teachers Union Day ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria.
Bought $6,100 in gift baskets from a lower East Side candy store – and plowed $179,000 into training retreats at a Connecticut resort boasting golf, scuba diving and aqua aerobics.
In one amazing feat of spending, they shelled out $114,870 for annual “coffee supplies” at their five offices across the city – paying the Coffee Distributing Corp. on Long Island $324,000 over three years, records show.
And while most New Yorkers spend hours trying to find a parking space, the UFT rents 25 slots in Brooklyn’s Renaissance Plaza Garage for members at an average annual cost of $75,000 over three years.
“I’m not going to apologize for spending money to service our members,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew.
“These people are heroes dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our children. They never get the respect they deserve. A cup of coffee, a bottle of water and a few parking spots is the least we can do for them.”

http://biggovernment.com/publius/2011/02/24/teachers-union-blows-1-4-million-on-party/
While local union leaders usually don't these benefits, make no mistake that the leaders in Wisconsin, especially WEAC, make 6 figure salaries, great benefits and get to travel the country going to "conferences" at nice places like Vegas, Florida and other exotic places and spend gobs of money on these conferences, all paid for by union dues. They don't stay at the local Howard Johnsons or Motel 6, they stay at the local 4 and 5 star hotels and eat at the best restaurants, all on the backs of it's union members.
If union members are given a choice of joining a teacher's union or not, the union will lose hundreds, if not thousands of members and this will end the lavish life style of union leaders, unless they decide to raise union dues.
So, union supporters, why not get the government out of the business of collecting union dues? Perhaps, Walker may be willing to compromise if the unions agree to this.
That is why unions are scared of Scott Walker's proposal.

h/t Charlie Sykes

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