Local teachers voting to disassociate from state, national teachers unions
A county teachers association in Maryland is standing up to state and national teachers unions that they don’t believe represent the best interests of local teachers and educational excellence for students.
The Wicomico County Education Association (WCEA) will decide next month whether to formally disassociate from the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) and the National Education Association (NEA)
The president of the county teachers association figures that — with dues in excess of $500,000 sent up the ladder to state and national unions — the local teachers can perform better for themselves the services the WCEA and NEA claim to offer local teachers associations. This vote comes also in wake of years of transparency issues with the MSEA and the NEA.
In 2009, the MSEA learned of an embezzling scheme from an affiliated local teachers union but chose not disclose the details to union members or investigators, covering up the scandal from dues-paying members who may have been inclined to leave the union otherwise. The NEA is also notorious for using dues funds in questionable ways — including spending more on politics and lobbying ($44,797,771) than on actual representational activities
http://monoblogue.us/tag/wicomico-county-education-association/Kelly Stephenson to the MSEA and community that:
In the years I have been representing WCEA, several things have become clear for all to see. First, many school employees believe MSEA has not represented them properly over the last decade and find it ironic that your people only show up when the $537,000 dues money is at risk. It is clear that you and your people on the “other side of the bridge” have a different agenda from those of us on this side of the bridge. Wicomico County, to most of us, is like a family – WCEA will work out our problems for the betterment of all – not just for the betterment of the Annapolis elite. In short, WCEA Board has heard repeatedly that your organization’s presence is not seen as a plus for our community.
the letter from the boards website..
http://www.wceaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Open-Letter-to-MSEA.pdf
Consequently, the WCEA Board's proposal to resolve
this matter is that there will be an electronic vote of all members
(paper ballot for members with no email access)
beginning at 7:00am on April 28, 2014 through 5:00PM on April 29, 2014
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majority rules (50 percent plus one)
–
as to whether or not to sever all ties, alleged or otherwise, with MSEA/NEA