The IEA leadership’s challenge to the members. And what to do.
Over the past couple of days I have engaged you in a discussion of three issues that the IEA leadership considers Challenging Issues.
These three issues are: Protection of our retirement benefits, teacher tenure and seniority rights.
All three are under attack by the so-called Reformers. The Reformers have identified them as key obstacles to addressing school improvement and the state’s budget disaster.
It is a hoax. They are a diversion.
Nothing about tenure and seniority impacts student learning. The problems in the state’s budget and economy were not caused by teacher pensions. The state owes a debt to our pension system, but putting a tax on our own benefits after we retire is punitive and a betrayal of a promise made to teachers.
The stance of our union should be to protect and defend the rights we have already won.
Instead, the leadership is prepared to sit at the table and negotiate them away.
To quote Ken Swanson in a letter to one of our members:
The discussion we are having is whether, as part if a comprehensive long term plan to address these crises, we could support the taxation of retirement income with a provision that exempts benefits below a threshold to protect modest retirement income.
and:
We all wish we found ourselves in a world where we were not facing these unprecedented crises. Alas, we have to be prepared.
Alas, these are not the words of leadership that is willing to fight for its members over the core union values of retirement promises made, retirement promises kept, tenure and seniority rights.
What should IEA rank-and-file members do?
IEA members should contact their Region Chairs (directly or through their Region Council reps) and tell them to vote NO on these proposals.
Anything in the Legislative Platform has to be changed first by the Legislative Committee.
Write them and tell them not to change our existing stand on these issues.
And then at the RA.
The RA in March is where the members actually have the power to block this sorry attempt at capitulation.
Thanks Fred for all your hard work and communication on this issue! I am doing my best to get the news out and encourage members to write Region Chairs and tell them to vote no on this “give it up” mentality!