Couldn't agree more with her. I used to teach but the Union actually bargain for some things that made my job worse. This is actually part of the reason why I am no longer a teacher. It's not the main reason but it definitely was a contributing factor to my leaving the profession.
Good for her...it's about time teachers stand up to the unions and Democratic plantation. Most teachers are professional educators with one goal in mind, setting children up for success and not failure. The unions at one time were definitely needed now they've become a branch of the Democratic fundraising machine. My wife is a public school teacher of 19 years and dropped out of the union in Michigan (MEA). Our teachers in our school district have been working without a contract for 7 years now. The union is doing a bang up job . That's just one of many examples. 65% of teachers dues collected go to the Democratic party and the teachers get nothing in return. For all the dues collected you think teachers would at least see their pay and benefits get better but no they stay stagnant or even get worst. I hope Rebecca is successful, I believe it will be a step in the right direction. Kids or young adults are not choosing to go into education field when they go to college. It's a dieing trade that needs to be lifted up high after all kids are our future.
We need this kind of courage and character for our children in public school. 3.6 Billion dollars are collected from 3.6 million teachers in America. Money and power corrupts.
I went through this in Canada. I was working in healthcare and my position was unionized along with about 200 others. None of us wanted in to the CUPE union (Canadian Union of Public Employees). Like this teacher, we were told we could be non-members, but we'd still pay union dues if we didn't sign our union cards. The legal answer to how freedom of association under the Charter of Rights & Freedoms applied to being forced into a union was disappointing. The Supreme Court of Canada had already ruled that in Canada we have freedom of association. However, we do not have freedom FROM association. In short, they kicked it back to Parliament to legislate on (they never did). The precedent had been set when a similar group had challenged forced unionization under the Charter. They lost.
+428ghost "The Supreme Court of Canada had already ruled that in Canada we have freedom of association. However, we do not have freedom FROM association. " So you can choose to associate with the union, but you can't choose not to associate with the union. wat
Compulsory union membership is one huge reason why unions are so disgusting. Friedrichs is correct. If unions offered a product that benefits members to the degree that the costs of membership are offset, then it wouldn't be necessary to use the force of law to mandate membership. Maybe with the loss of compulsory membership they will be forced to compete and improve their product they offer to members.
gskibum I agree. People don’t tend to need to be forced to buy electricity, cable, internet, or any one of the numerous other goods and services our consumer culture offers. You would think that teachers, who of course, are so educated, would not need to be forced to recognize the benefits of their unions.
+gskibum Who exactly would the Union be forced to compete with??? I don't know if you understand this, but nobody but the Union is in the room negotiating on behalf of workers for higher wages, better benefits, and fair and safe working conditions. The Union is the only game in town, so there is no competition for workers rights whether the plaintiff wins in this case or not. The effect of a win for Friedrich would be to lessen the strength of the Union substantially, and thereby weaken any bargaining power of the Union. if Friedrich wins non-paying members would still be required by law to receive all the benefits of the Union's contract bargaining, while not paying a dime for it. That is selfish and disgusting.
DirtFlyer “nobody but the Union is in the room negotiating on behalf of workers for higher wages, better benefits, and fair and safe working conditions.” The Union currently has a coercive monopoly, so yeah; of course it is the only game in town, that’s kind of how coercive monopolies work. However, this does not have to be case. It is possible, and desirable, to have multiple unions competing for worker dues and bargaining on their behalf. “If Friedrich wins non-paying members would still be required by law to receive all the benefits of the Union's contract bargaining, while not paying a dime for it. That is selfish and disgusting..” Well, if this is true then the law(s) needs to be repealed. An organization shouldn’t legally be required to provide the same salary, healthcare, vacation incentives, or retirement package to employees who were not members of the Union that contracted for them. In any case, you are assuming the “benefits” the Unions contract for are something the members and non-members actually want. This is a really important point. Some teachers may be completely SATISFIED with their current compensation and working conditions and therefore do not value the Union. Or, some teachers may want a Union but may be UNSATISFIED with the agreements the Union actually contract for. They may find the Union “representing” them to be poor advocates and administrators-imagine you are being tried for murder but Donald Trump was your lawyer, and you can never fire him or stop paying him. It is more reasonable and ethical to respect teachers freedom of association by letting unsatisfied teachers look for work elsewhere, or voluntarily pay a union to lobby on their behalf who makes an effort to EDUCATE its members as to the value it has and can provide, while continuing to get results, rather than violate everybody’s freedom of association by forcing membership in a one-size-fits-all Union that may engage in political activities and agree to contract agreements that may be opposed to by many of its “members”.
+Terry Day So you are defining someone who negotiates to get you higher wages and better benefits as a "coercive monopoly." LOL How about we act like adults here and drop the asinine word play you are using in your feeble attempt at demonizing Unions. Why would anybody in their right mind not want the higher wages, better working conditions, or lower deductible insurance that the Union has negotiated for them??? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. If all you have is nonsense and bullshit to argue with, I will just quit wasting my time.
I joined the union at a federal facility in self defense once. No need to go into why but really abusive bosses (at the VA) were the reason. Anyway, I start getting loads of left-wing-nut literature from the union bosses explaining how they are lobbying congress for all sorts of liberal crap. These guys are spending a fortune on political activity! All I wanted was legal representation to protect me from whistleblowing and retribution from my bosses. Turns out the union was just another branch of the government (the left branch). Union president has a better parking place than the big boss.
And let me guess... They were not helpful to you at all were they? Hell they probably 'tricked you out' to your bosses. Cannot trust these assholes to even be on YOUR side. Back stabbing assholes that they are.
I think if they want to be free of union representative, they should have to negotiate their own contracts and health benefits and all of that. If she wants to do that, go for it.
Yes, let teachers control their own destiny. Teachers unions have NEITHER THE CHILDRENS NOR THE TEACHERS best interests in mind. They are corrupt political arms and NEED TO BE DISSOLVED!!
I'm sure teachers are master negotiators and know the ins and outs of health care law, and also individually have the clout to dictate terms. You stupid fucks.
I am pro union and have taken part many organizing events in attempt to help workers in manufacturing and skilled trades unionized. That said public sector unions must not exist. Without profit being involved unions are too oppressive and costly. If you dont have to be profitable the union is able to corrupt the whole system.
My solution? Become a private teacher. Work for a private school or become a tutor. You can make more money and you will have a lot more freedom. I think all, yes all, public schools should be sold or shut down. The private sector can teach children more effectively and efficiently than the government can.
+formerevolutionist Hi, private school teachers make a lot less than public school teachers, which is why they so often quit and go to work for public schools. Also, we have been trying private schools, charter schools, and voucher schools, and the results have been pretty grim. All things considered, the public sector is still the best at educating Ca children. Tom
Crappy teachers get fired from private schools or get paid like chite, so they go back to a job they can't get fired in. Public schools get all the shitty teachers.
Finally some clarity on teachers' unions if not quite the big breakthrough on seniority that many members as well as the public desires. Almost everyone who's ever been connected under a public sector union has experienced the Peter Principle to the max spewing forth from both management & the unions. IMO, it the civil service system itself that still needs much political & technological restructuring without all of the additional encumbrances of late 20th century labor law. Dag, Rebecca, your appeal as a Libertarian politician is HUGE. You're the only woman I've seen yet that I would like to see as the 1st female POTUS. I've been looking for a candidate at least since the run of Geraldine Ferraro but they've all been Progressives & even currently including Lady Macbeth herself. The GOP have offered nothing on this issue except for the two dolts, Palin & Bachman. In this cycle, the Lib. Party's 2 best candidates are a Johnson-Ventura ticket, imo. I also believe that most feminists would gladly vote for a female Libertarian instead of settling for the Queen of the Night.
Michael Haimerl Why let it get that far. Why should I be forced to pay taxes which go to schools when I have no kids. Get rid of public schools entirely.
AKlover I'm all for private schools, but it seems more practical to have public financing of those schools, like you have with a voucher system. I think not having kids is not a valid argument when it comes to funding schools, because everybody went to school himself. Look at it this way, you go to school at a young age and instead of having to pay everything while you are there, you are taxed for a small amount over the course of your work life. This is much better, because otherwise, people in lower income families would have an incentive to get their kids out of school as soon as possible to save money.
It's simple .Taxation for a service /product (especially school) is immoral. I pay over 5k per year for the public schools and I never had children. It's sickening. Why should I pay for someone else's kids so they can waste time in overblown daycare for 12 years. Somebody had to say it.
There are many countries on this planet that don't tax you and let you fend for yourself. You could move to one of them. Living in a western, civilised society has costs associated with it and the most effective way to pay for it is to get everyone to help out. Using a trillion dollars a year to fear monger and kill brown people is probably more immoral than paying teachers to educate the youth of your country, don't you think?
coffeebuzzz "the most effective way to pay for it is to get everyone to help out." How was it determined that this is the most effective way? Please include your sources. Can you "get everyone to help out" effectively without the use of force? If not, how do you morally justify it? "more immoral than paying teachers to educate the youth of your country, don't you think?" Are you okay with the tax dollars being spent on teachers _abusing_ our youth, like the one mentioned in the video?
coffeebuzzz Morally speaking, it’s pretty fucked up to threaten legal sanctions, home liens, and prison on otherwise peaceful people just because people want to live their life unmolested by government do gooders. I honestly think most people are decent, good-hearted souls who do care about their communities. I just think that their negative experience in school, and their observation of its current condition, has left them jaded. They rightfully don’t want to see their hard earned money burned in front of their eyes. There are numerous ways children can be provided an education. Coercive monopolies have low incentives to actually cut costs and improve services. Forcing people to pay for a program is absolutely an effective way to ensure that program’s continued existence. However, it existing has no correlation to the question of whether the funds being used up are providing real value. I invite you to start and join the conversation on developing non-violent ways to educate the next generation in a sustainable and freedom-oriented manner.
Teacher tenure laws are the reason why there is a shortage of new teachers entering the profession. The unions mandate that teachers starting out work for near minimum wage and have no job protections, but teachers nearing and in retirement earn above market wages and have job protection and benefits for life. The best and brightest coming out of college have many much better job options available to them where they can negotiate their salary and benefits on their own.
If she was genuinely concerned for the welfare of students instead of energizing over this one experience with one "abusive" teacher perhaps her energy could have been directed at all the more significant and widespread abuses perpetrated on our public school children by toxic for-profit testing and the daily attacks on their social and emotional well-being. That one teacher she cites as the crucible of her anti union sentiments could have been dismissed on appropriate grounds. Tenure only guarantees due process it does not save those that are not defendable. Rebecca should not be a public school teacher.
If you are looking for a civil discourse free from personal insults, don’t look in this comment section. People shouldn’t be forced to join unions, and frankly the economy would be better without them, especially in the public sector. These people are doing a public service for our communities, and they can strike just because they aren’t given above average pay. Ridiculous.
Emberwilde Productions First off, don’t knock right to work. It’s none of your business who I work for (or for how much), any more than its any of your business who I sleep with. With respect to working conditions, I would suggest the workers become unionized. Unions are beneficial and can do a lot of good work. It’s just that the predatory activities of public-sector unions has lowered the perception of value in many people minds, both employer and employee.
Kudos to Rebecca, as a teacher,ni support her cause, the unions eventually will turn on teachers by helping smear campaigns,band even fire them mindlessly,, so many teachers are fed up with the crooks running the pseudo unions, starting from AFT all the way down to local chapters
If she doesn't join the union, then she doesn't deserve the pay raises that they negotiate. Of course, she probably doesn't care because she looks like she's about to retire anyway. I'm fine with teachers not being part of the union, but they don't get the raise. It's that simple.
+robenrox She's probably married to a guy that makes a good salary and is set for life so now she can help pull the rug out from under future teachers and undermine any semblance of unity, maybe some will be her ex-students. I hope she can justify that morally. Divide and conquer is her legacy.
+robenrox unfortunately, the law states that all employees, whether they are union members or not, must receive the benefits that the union negotiates. This is a little tidbit that Ms. Friedrich seems to leave out of her argument. I'm sure she's ready to retire with a nice, union negotiated, pension. The union made it possible for this lady to choose teaching as a career because of the good salary and benefits they have won for ALL California teachers.
We've seen time and time again where unions would barge onto others land saying that their workers dont have rights, but then you have stories like these
A non-brainwashed teacher? This is sorcery!! Now if only she admitted that she's a bit of a hypocrite and extend her demands to the tax payers, so that we ALSO have the right to chose if we want to pay for public schools, then all would be just fucking peachy.
Its kinda like when your parents spoil you, take you to Disney land, and make you ride the rides your other siblings want to ride in addition to the ones you want to to ride, and then you complain about it and say you want to choose your parents that are only going to focus on JUST you...
No, its more like being forced into a special interest group and to pay them money to support policies you're against whole you get nothing for it. These unions haven't done a thing for teachers or in the classrooms for a very long time. They get all that money and can't even get schools to buy more printers. They're like forcing teachers to give to freeloadera
Yea, but she is from Buena Park, CA. We all know South California is different than Liberal California. Actually the same difference as North and East California. Breaking up the state would do a lot to help with Unions.
I'm really happy that Friedrichs realized all this after benefitting from union representation and collective bargaining for 28 years. How will this case affect future teacher's wages, rights, and benefits? Does she really care? She knows damn well that our political system requires campaign funding and lobbying. That's the employees voice and it represents the common interests that we share in a system that can only hear the sound of money. Don't worry Rebecca there is plenty of money countering the employees money. So thanks again for helping those who want more control of our financial well being and have an endless supply of cash to do so. I salute your rugged individualism. Just remember those who you inadvertently support are working collectively even if they don't agree on everything.
Before we had unions teachers cleaned the floor and got paid almost nothing. This is not a union matter as much as a professional matter. If you don't have much respect for yourself, you don't invest in your profession. I paid dues my entire life and I know that my union cared is one of the most important ones I own. I got back 100 times more than I gave in.
YOU ARE A LIAR. You probably deserved NOTHING to begin with and could not earn your benefits. Professional matter? What the hell do unions have to do with professional anyway? NOTHING.
Donald Mersel //// You see, you admitted the problem yourself out of your own mouth! You don't even find your own pension.. The tax payers fund your over bloated pension.. You steal from tax payers from your state.. Your pensions are worth millions yet you funded less than 15% percent over 20 years... Fucking government ponzie scheme manufactured by communist scum in government.. The sooner these pension bombs go off, the better off we will be... We need to remove these socialist crytocrats from government.. And fund your own shit for once in your life.., I can't wait for this Marxist mentality to destroy their very own.. It's more like racketeering.. That's why teacher's unions hate school choice programs and they hate merit pay for teachers.. Can't fire a crappy teacher unless they kill someone..
So, she never asked the union to represent her? She also never refused a pay raise or better working conditions: all brought to her by dues-paying members of the CTA.
Who says it was they who got her the raise? Furthermore, could she have gotten a better raise for herself if she didn't have to worry about only being worth as much money as the shittiest worker at the place??
Sweet lord I hope she wins, and without some nuanced bs opinion to placate political interests. The only thing this video is missing is a donate button...just maybe we will begin to unwind the stranglehold on education that is the union/.gov bedfellowship.
Unions would not mind agency fee payers opting out if we did not have to continue to provide the services to them that members enjoy. This usually includes representation when accused of some wrongdoing. As a union chapter leader for nine years I am aware that a teacher does not have to be guilty to be accused. Yes, we enjoy excellent health benefits, good pensions, and at least the right to a safe work place. Management did not give these things to us just because it was the right thing to do. If you know your labor history then you know that the forty hour week, a lunch period, weekends, sick days, work men's comp., maternity leaves, vacations, and many other things that most workers now take for granted came about through collective bargaining. Destroy unions and there is no way to fight back when these things are taken away. Look at Wisconsin. As for tenure, it is only the right to due process. It does not mean that an incompetent or abusive teacher cannot be touched, or fired if need be.
The list of inaccurate and misleading statements in this interview is staggering, and a responsible refutation would require substantial space. In summary, however, Ms. Friedrichs misrepresents the complex legal facts of public union representation, ignores entirely the recognized limits upon "free speech" by public employees, and fails to contextualize the historical role of unions in the public sphere. For further, informed analysis of this case, see the "SCOTUS Blog" and discussion on Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. The assumptions of the interview, conducted by Reason Magazine, are negligently biased towards a libertarian perspective and must be regarded with care.
I hope you all realize that her teacher's pay is probably above $100,000.00/year. I don't hear her wanting to give up her union negotiated pay, medical benefits and excellent retirement system, do you?
Or the fact they can't fire her for getting married and thus having a means on support, no longer should she be taking a space from a single woman who needs a job, or having a baby, or not hiring her in the first place in case she does have a baby, or hire a man above her because men are the breadwinners. For having sex outside of marriage, or being seen with a drink/cigarette.
It ain't just teachers bro.... It includes Corrections officers, Department of Children and Family services workers, State highway workers. State Police... What choice do we have? NONE.
But she accepts the pay raises, insurance benefits and job security that her union bargains for her. Go teach in a charter school and see how you like a non union environment.She must be a republican!
Couldn't agree more with her.
I used to teach but the Union actually bargain for some things that made my job worse. This is actually part of the reason why I am no longer a teacher. It's not the main reason but it definitely was a contributing factor to my leaving the profession.
I think she talking about my stepmother. Worst teacher ever!
Good for her...it's about time teachers stand up to the unions and Democratic plantation. Most teachers are professional educators with one goal in mind, setting children up for success and not failure. The unions at one time were definitely needed now they've become a branch of the Democratic fundraising machine. My wife is a public school teacher of 19 years and dropped out of the union in Michigan (MEA). Our teachers in our school district have been working without a contract for 7 years now. The union is doing a bang up job . That's just one of many examples. 65% of teachers dues collected go to the Democratic party and the teachers get nothing in return. For all the dues collected you think teachers would at least see their pay and benefits get better but no they stay stagnant or even get worst. I hope Rebecca is successful, I believe it will be a step in the right direction. Kids or young adults are not choosing to go into education field when they go to college. It's a dieing trade that needs to be lifted up high after all kids are our future.
We need this kind of courage and character for our children in public school. 3.6 Billion dollars are collected from 3.6 million teachers in America. Money and power corrupts.
I went through this in Canada. I was working in healthcare and my position was unionized along with about 200 others. None of us wanted in to the CUPE union (Canadian Union of Public Employees). Like this teacher, we were told we could be non-members, but we'd still pay union dues if we didn't sign our union cards.
The legal answer to how freedom of association under the Charter of Rights & Freedoms applied to being forced into a union was disappointing. The Supreme Court of Canada had already ruled that in Canada we have freedom of association. However, we do not have freedom FROM association. In short, they kicked it back to Parliament to legislate on (they never did). The precedent had been set when a similar group had challenged forced unionization under the Charter. They lost.
+428ghost "The Supreme Court of Canada had already ruled that in Canada we have freedom of association. However, we do not have freedom FROM association. " So you can choose to associate with the union, but you can't choose not to associate with the union. wat
Congratulations on the recent SCOTUS decision, very exciting. FREEDOM!!
it passed and now u don't have to pay
That's so awesome!
Compulsory union membership is one huge reason why unions are so disgusting.
Friedrichs is correct. If unions offered a product that benefits members to the degree that the costs of membership are offset, then it wouldn't be necessary to use the force of law to mandate membership. Maybe with the loss of compulsory membership they will be forced to compete and improve their product they offer to members.
gskibum
I agree. People don’t tend to need to be forced to buy electricity, cable, internet, or any one of the numerous other goods and services our consumer culture offers. You would think that teachers, who of course, are so educated, would not need to be forced to recognize the benefits of their unions.
+gskibum Who exactly would the Union be forced to compete with??? I don't know if you understand this, but nobody but the Union is in the room negotiating on behalf of workers for higher wages, better benefits, and fair and safe working conditions. The Union is the only game in town, so there is no competition for workers rights whether the plaintiff wins in this case or not. The effect of a win for Friedrich would be to lessen the strength of the Union substantially, and thereby weaken any bargaining power of the Union. if Friedrich wins non-paying members would still be required by law to receive all the benefits of the Union's contract bargaining, while not paying a dime for it. That is selfish and disgusting.
DirtFlyer “nobody but the Union is in the room negotiating on behalf of workers for higher wages, better benefits, and fair and safe working conditions.”
The Union currently has a coercive monopoly, so yeah; of course it is the only game in town, that’s kind of how coercive monopolies work. However, this does not have to be case. It is possible, and desirable, to have multiple unions competing for worker dues and bargaining on their behalf.
“If Friedrich wins non-paying members would still be required by law to receive all the benefits of the Union's contract bargaining, while not paying a dime for it. That is selfish and disgusting..”
Well, if this is true then the law(s) needs to be repealed. An organization shouldn’t legally be required to provide the same salary, healthcare, vacation incentives, or retirement package to employees who were not members of the Union that contracted for them.
In any case, you are assuming the “benefits” the Unions contract for are something the members and non-members actually want. This is a really important point. Some teachers may be completely SATISFIED with their current compensation and working conditions and therefore do not value the Union. Or, some teachers may want a Union but may be UNSATISFIED with the agreements the Union actually contract for. They may find the Union “representing” them to be poor advocates and administrators-imagine you are being tried for murder but Donald Trump was your lawyer, and you can never fire him or stop paying him.
It is more reasonable and ethical to respect teachers freedom of association by letting unsatisfied teachers look for work elsewhere, or voluntarily pay a union to lobby on their behalf who makes an effort to EDUCATE its members as to the value it has and can provide, while continuing to get results, rather than violate everybody’s freedom of association by forcing membership in a one-size-fits-all Union that may engage in political activities and agree to contract agreements that may be opposed to by many of its “members”.
+Terry Day So you are defining someone who negotiates to get you higher wages and better benefits as a "coercive monopoly." LOL How about we act like adults here and drop the asinine word play you are using in your feeble attempt at demonizing Unions. Why would anybody in their right mind not want the higher wages, better working conditions, or lower deductible insurance that the Union has negotiated for them??? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. If all you have is nonsense and bullshit to argue with, I will just quit wasting my time.
DirtFlyer I think I raised valid points but if you don't want to address them then don't. I am just a stranger on the internet.
I joined the union at a federal facility in self defense once. No need to go into why but really abusive bosses (at the VA) were the reason. Anyway, I start getting loads of left-wing-nut literature from the union bosses explaining how they are lobbying congress for all sorts of liberal crap. These guys are spending a fortune on political activity! All I wanted was legal representation to protect me from whistleblowing and retribution from my bosses. Turns out the union was just another branch of the government (the left branch). Union president has a better parking place than the big boss.
And let me guess... They were not helpful to you at all were they? Hell they probably 'tricked you out' to your bosses. Cannot trust these assholes to even be on YOUR side. Back stabbing assholes that they are.
Should have been a longer interview. I think she had more to say
Seems like this should be a no-brainer for supreme courts in the "land of the free". Too bad that's not actually the way things are here.
heffayguap
I hold no confidence in a court that gave us the penaltax.
heffayguap SCOTUS routinely votes against personal liberty.
heffayguap If by some miracle the Supreme court rules on the side of freedom, it will be only 5 to 4.
thephranc Say what you will about Republican Presidents, but they routinely do a slightly better job of appointing Justices than Dem Presidents do.
JC545X39 With some asterisks.
I think if they want to be free of union representative, they should have to negotiate their own contracts and health benefits and all of that. If she wants to do that, go for it.
7armedman yes, they should do that with their employers without having the union do it for them.
Yes, let teachers control their own destiny. Teachers unions have NEITHER THE CHILDRENS NOR THE TEACHERS best interests in mind. They are corrupt political arms and NEED TO BE DISSOLVED!!
I'm sure teachers are master negotiators and know the ins and outs of health care law, and also individually have the clout to dictate terms. You stupid fucks.
I am pro union and have taken part many organizing events in attempt to help workers in manufacturing and skilled trades unionized. That said public sector unions must not exist. Without profit being involved unions are too oppressive and costly. If you dont have to be profitable the union is able to corrupt the whole system.
Yeah! Profit!
My solution? Become a private teacher. Work for a private school or become a tutor. You can make more money and you will have a lot more freedom. I think all, yes all, public schools should be sold or shut down. The private sector can teach children more effectively and efficiently than the government can.
+formerevolutionist Hi, private school teachers make a lot less than public school teachers, which is why they so often quit and go to work for public schools. Also, we have been trying private schools, charter schools, and voucher schools, and the results have been pretty grim. All things considered, the public sector is still the best at educating Ca children. Tom
+Tom Harriman That's pretty sad then.
why should the union mafia have a monopoly in this sector?
Crappy teachers get fired from private schools or get paid like chite, so they go back to a job they can't get fired in. Public schools get all the shitty teachers.
Finally some clarity on teachers' unions if not quite the big breakthrough on seniority that many members as well as the public desires. Almost everyone who's ever been connected under a public sector union has experienced the Peter Principle to the max spewing forth from both management & the unions. IMO, it the civil service system itself that still needs much political & technological restructuring without all of the additional encumbrances of late 20th century labor law.
Dag, Rebecca, your appeal as a Libertarian politician is HUGE. You're the only woman I've seen yet that I would like to see as the 1st female POTUS. I've been looking for a candidate at least since the run of Geraldine Ferraro but they've all been Progressives & even currently including Lady Macbeth herself. The GOP have offered nothing on this issue except for the two dolts, Palin & Bachman. In this cycle, the Lib. Party's 2 best candidates are a Johnson-Ventura ticket, imo. I also believe that most feminists would gladly vote for a female Libertarian instead of settling for the Queen of the Night.
One thousand dollars of union fees a year per teacher?! How is this even allowed to exist?
Michael Haimerl Why let it get that far. Why should I be forced to pay taxes which go to schools when I have no kids. Get rid of public schools entirely.
AKlover I'm all for private schools, but it seems more practical to have public financing of those schools, like you have with a voucher system. I think not having kids is not a valid argument when it comes to funding schools, because everybody went to school himself. Look at it this way, you go to school at a young age and instead of having to pay everything while you are there, you are taxed for a small amount over the course of your work life. This is much better, because otherwise, people in lower income families would have an incentive to get their kids out of school as soon as possible to save money.
Michael Haimerl Because when you kiss leftist ass, you officially can do no wrong ever.
Michael Haimerl Clearly you are not a Libertarian. Let me say it plainly. TAXATION IS THEFT!
AKlover Taxation is SLAVERY, as well. Whenever I am forced to work for no pay, that is slavery.
Rebecca Friedrichs, you're Awesome...!!!
She's a Great Teacher who has more sense than the average Politician...!!!
You should run for Office...!!!
It's simple .Taxation for a service /product (especially school) is immoral. I pay over 5k per year for the public schools and I never had children. It's sickening. Why should I pay for someone else's kids so they can waste time in overblown daycare for 12 years.
Somebody had to say it.
There are many countries on this planet that don't tax you and let you fend for yourself. You could move to one of them.
Living in a western, civilised society has costs associated with it and the most effective way to pay for it is to get everyone to help out.
Using a trillion dollars a year to fear monger and kill brown people is probably more immoral than paying teachers to educate the youth of your country, don't you think?
coffeebuzzz Really? wow. Please list these countries that have zero taxation. I had no idea.
coffeebuzzz "the most effective way to pay for it is to get everyone to help out."
How was it determined that this is the most effective way? Please include your sources.
Can you "get everyone to help out" effectively without the use of force? If not, how do you morally justify it?
"more immoral than paying teachers to educate the youth of your
country, don't you think?"
Are you okay with the tax dollars being spent on teachers _abusing_ our youth, like the one mentioned in the video?
0atheist Oh for FCKS sake.... not Somalia... AGAIN!!!
coffeebuzzz
Morally speaking, it’s pretty fucked up to threaten legal sanctions, home liens, and prison on otherwise peaceful people just because people want to live their life unmolested by government do gooders. I honestly think most people are decent, good-hearted souls who do care about their communities. I just think that their negative experience in school, and their observation of its current condition, has left them jaded. They rightfully don’t want to see their hard earned money burned in front of their eyes.
There are numerous ways children can be provided an education. Coercive monopolies have low incentives to actually cut costs and improve services. Forcing people to pay for a program is absolutely an effective way to ensure that program’s continued existence. However, it existing has no correlation to the question of whether the funds being used up are providing real value.
I invite you to start and join the conversation on developing non-violent ways to educate the next generation in a sustainable and freedom-oriented manner.
In your closing arguments just say that good ideas don't require force... I hope she kicks ass!
Who wouldn't want to be dragged down to the lowest common denominator ?
Defund public school districts. Eliminate teacher tenure and truancy schemes.
Yeah! Fuck public education. Defund it, ruin it, destroy it!!!
Teacher tenure laws are the reason why there is a shortage of new teachers entering the profession. The unions mandate that teachers starting out work for near minimum wage and have no job protections, but teachers nearing and in retirement earn above market wages and have job protection and benefits for life. The best and brightest coming out of college have many much better job options available to them where they can negotiate their salary and benefits on their own.
Freedom (as defined by liberals): The uninhibited ability to force people, via legislation and consequence, to comply with their every wish.
How about parent choice, on what school they can send their kid too
Or what about free food for the starving children? Why does this person have to force people to pay to eat the school meals.
If she was genuinely concerned for the welfare of students instead of energizing over this one experience with one "abusive" teacher perhaps her energy could have been directed at all the more significant and widespread abuses perpetrated on our public school children by toxic for-profit testing and the daily attacks on their social and emotional well-being. That one teacher she cites as the crucible of her anti union sentiments could have been dismissed on appropriate grounds. Tenure only guarantees due process it does not save those that are not defendable. Rebecca should not be a public school teacher.
+Lori Silveira Thanks Lori for filling in the huge Fox Propaganda News-like gaps in Friedrichs story.
If you are looking for a civil discourse free from personal insults, don’t look in this comment section. People shouldn’t be forced to join unions, and frankly the economy would be better without them, especially in the public sector. These people are doing a public service for our communities, and they can strike just because they aren’t given above average pay. Ridiculous.
Does anyone have good union stories of how helpful they are to their injured workers being cheated by the unionized Workers Compensation Insurers?
"Right to work" (for less) states have lower wages and more dangerous working conditions.
Emberwilde Productions First off, don’t knock right to work. It’s none of your business who I work for (or for how much), any more than its any of your business who I sleep with.
With respect to working conditions, I would suggest the workers become unionized. Unions are beneficial and can do a lot of good work. It’s just that the predatory activities of public-sector unions has lowered the perception of value in many people minds, both employer and employee.
Emberwilde Productions "Right to work" laws would not be necessary without mandatory bargaining laws.
There should be no public service unions.
Wow, she based her case on one single anecdote. She must be a smart lady. She is a smart lady. Smart.
Let's not forget about her latest stunt recently. She thinks free food for children is the big scary Communism.
Act for yourself? Shocking! You need to go to the gulag ASAP
She is a Hero
Kudos to Rebecca, as a teacher,ni support her cause, the unions eventually will turn on teachers by helping smear campaigns,band even fire them mindlessly,, so many teachers are fed up with the crooks running the pseudo unions, starting from AFT all the way down to local chapters
In Virginia we can choose to join or not. For teachers, there are multiple union options.
Not in California. www.freedomfoundation.com/labor/unions-use-par-to-discourage-teachers-from-opting-out/
Oh, damn. Hot for teacher.
theothertoolbox Yea, she is way too dangerous in the classroom. Probably gives all the boys and some girls something to think about later.
Kevin Smith NO doubt. Where were the likes of her when I was matriculating? All mine looked like crazy old bats or former USMC drill instructors. LOL
theothertoolbox Glad somebody said it lol.
Rick P
It HAD to be said. :P
She was my sister's teacher, no lie
If she doesn't join the union, then she doesn't deserve the pay raises that they negotiate. Of course, she probably doesn't care because she looks like she's about to retire anyway. I'm fine with teachers not being part of the union, but they don't get the raise. It's that simple.
+robenrox She's probably married to a guy that makes a good salary and is set for life so now she can help pull the rug out from under future teachers and undermine any semblance of unity, maybe some will be her ex-students. I hope she can justify that morally. Divide and conquer is her legacy.
+Jeff Bettencourt You're probably right. UGH! She's the worst.
+robenrox unfortunately, the law states that all employees, whether they are union members or not, must receive the benefits that the union negotiates. This is a little tidbit that Ms. Friedrich seems to leave out of her argument. I'm sure she's ready to retire with a nice, union negotiated, pension. The union made it possible for this lady to choose teaching as a career because of the good salary and benefits they have won for ALL California teachers.
Unions don't negotiate shit. What makes you think a good teacher could NOT get a raise without a union being there?
Yes Rebecca!!
We've seen time and time again where unions would barge onto others land saying that their workers dont have rights, but then you have stories like these
A non-brainwashed teacher? This is sorcery!!
Now if only she admitted that she's a bit of a hypocrite and extend her demands to the tax payers, so that we ALSO have the right to chose if we want to pay for public schools, then all would be just fucking peachy.
So when the union gets higher wages for the members of the union.....non union members will be satisfied with their lower wages...I don't think so....
She has awesome hair too.
Its kinda like when your parents spoil you, take you to Disney land, and make you ride the rides your other siblings want to ride in addition to the ones you want to to ride, and then you complain about it and say you want to choose your parents that are only going to focus on JUST you...
No, its more like being forced into a special interest group and to pay them money to support policies you're against whole you get nothing for it.
These unions haven't done a thing for teachers or in the classrooms for a very long time.
They get all that money and can't even get schools to buy more printers.
They're like forcing teachers to give to freeloadera
Yea, but she is from Buena Park, CA. We all know South California is different than Liberal California. Actually the same difference as North and East California. Breaking up the state would do a lot to help with Unions.
Is it true teachers only report to work 6 months per year? I'm asking, anybody actually know?
I'm really happy that Friedrichs realized all this after benefitting from union representation and collective bargaining for 28 years. How will this case affect future teacher's wages, rights, and benefits? Does she really care? She knows damn well that our political system requires campaign funding and lobbying. That's the employees voice and it represents the common interests that we share in a system that can only hear the sound of money. Don't worry Rebecca there is plenty of money countering the employees money. So thanks again for helping those who want more control of our financial well being and have an endless supply of cash to do so. I salute your rugged individualism. Just remember those who you inadvertently support are working collectively even if they don't agree on everything.
Before we had unions teachers cleaned the floor and got paid almost nothing. This is not a union matter as much as a professional matter. If you don't have much respect for yourself, you don't invest in your profession. I paid dues my entire life and I know that my union cared is one of the most important ones I own. I got back 100 times more than I gave in.
+Donald Mersel thank you for your word of wisdom!
YOU ARE A LIAR. You probably deserved NOTHING to begin with and could not earn your benefits. Professional matter? What the hell do unions have to do with professional anyway? NOTHING.
Donald Mersel //// You see, you admitted the problem yourself out of your own mouth! You don't even find your own pension.. The tax payers fund your over bloated pension.. You steal from tax payers from your state.. Your pensions are worth millions yet you funded less than 15% percent over 20 years... Fucking government ponzie scheme manufactured by communist scum in government.. The sooner these pension bombs go off, the better off we will be... We need to remove these socialist crytocrats from government.. And fund your own shit for once in your life.., I can't wait for this Marxist mentality to destroy their very own.. It's more like racketeering.. That's why teacher's unions hate school choice programs and they hate merit pay for teachers.. Can't fire a crappy teacher unless they kill someone..
Hmmm so $1000 to be in the union $650 not to be in it... That sounds like a rip.
The people have a right to be a business also
I hadn't heard of a "union shop" before working at a printing factory. What a total crock of shit.
So, she never asked the union to represent her? She also never refused a pay raise or better working conditions: all brought to her by dues-paying members of the CTA.
Who says it was they who got her the raise? Furthermore, could she have gotten a better raise for herself if she didn't have to worry about only being worth as much money as the shittiest worker at the place??
Why do kindergarten teachers have tenure?!?
However, we certainly enjoyed the pay and benefits the union contracts provided, didn't we? Your going to lose those.
Sweet lord I hope she wins, and without some nuanced bs opinion to placate political interests. The only thing this video is missing is a donate button...just maybe we will begin to unwind the stranglehold on education that is the union/.gov bedfellowship.
If she hated the unions so much, then why did she stay working in a public school so long, there are plenty of non-union private schools out there?
Come to Wisconsin!
+Craig Voskuil Please by all means!!! Take your ass to Wisconsin along with the rest of you cohorts!!!
Rebecca Friedricks is NOT Namaslayingit!!!
good for you dear..
you WILLL WIN
blessings yall
doc from texas
No more unions
Unions would not mind agency fee payers opting out if we did not have to continue to provide the services to them that members enjoy. This usually includes representation when accused of some wrongdoing. As a union chapter leader for nine years I am aware that a teacher does not have to be guilty to be accused. Yes, we enjoy excellent health benefits, good pensions, and at least the right to a safe work place. Management did not give these things to us just because it was the right thing to do. If you know your labor history then you know that the forty hour week, a lunch period, weekends, sick days, work men's comp., maternity leaves, vacations, and many other things that most workers now take for granted came about through collective bargaining. Destroy unions and there is no way to fight back when these things are taken away. Look at Wisconsin. As for tenure, it is only the right to due process. It does not mean that an incompetent or abusive teacher cannot be touched, or fired if need be.
The list of inaccurate and misleading statements in this interview is staggering, and a responsible refutation would require substantial space. In summary, however, Ms. Friedrichs misrepresents the complex legal facts of public union representation, ignores entirely the recognized limits upon "free speech" by public employees, and fails to contextualize the historical role of unions in the public sphere. For further, informed analysis of this case, see the "SCOTUS Blog" and discussion on Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. The assumptions of the interview, conducted by Reason Magazine, are negligently biased towards a libertarian perspective and must be regarded with care.
+Thomas Edson You said nothing substantive. Please try again. I will debate you on this topic.
I hope you all realize that her teacher's pay is probably above $100,000.00/year. I don't hear her wanting to give up her union negotiated pay, medical benefits and excellent retirement system, do you?
Or the fact they can't fire her for getting married and thus having a means on support, no longer should she be taking a space from a single woman who needs a job, or having a baby, or not hiring her in the first place in case she does have a baby, or hire a man above her because men are the breadwinners. For having sex outside of marriage, or being seen with a drink/cigarette.
If she doesn't want to join a union, don't apply for a job that will have a union represent you. You can teach in a non union charter school.
It ain't just teachers bro.... It includes Corrections officers, Department of Children and Family services workers, State highway workers. State Police... What choice do we have? NONE.
That's the problem. No union should have power over any job outside of their organization.
wow and I was hoping to save my 1k in fees and investing that portion each month making me more wealth !
How much is she being paid to do this??
Now that's courage.
teacher's union pays for dental, prescriptions, and vision insurance... hmm... and they stand by me at all times! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! #istandwithuft
But she accepts the pay raises, insurance benefits and job security that her union bargains for her. Go teach in a charter school and see how you like a non union environment.She must be a republican!
Debra Fedyna "I have a moral problem with that, I have a big problem with that" watch the whole fucking video before commenting.
Debra Fedyna from my experience as a student, charter schools have worked out pretty well.
Great woman!
I hope you like low wages and junk benifites.
You still a student teacher😁