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Union Member Angered by Obama Endorsement
posted by: Alix | July 08, 2011, 08:28 PM   


Making national news is the story of one union member in Michigan named Andrew Buikema, an eight-year veteran teacher who has had enough of a union that he feels does not represent him. Andrew is frustrated with not only the NEA endorsement of a candidate he does not support, but the fact that the President will receive campaign contributions out of his own paycheck. "I became a teacher to help kids, not to become a political pawn," said Andrew in an interview with Fox News.

Regardless of political leanings, the continued focus on partisan politics has angered many union members who feel they have no voice in the matter – not to mention the fact that there is no official Republican challenger. Apparently the NEA does not care to even evaluate the President's competition before an official announcement. In addition to the hurried public endorsement, union members will now have to pay an additional $10 a year to funnel into the NEA political action committee, an organization with a sole focus on partisan elections.

Unfortunately for Andrew, he lives in compulsory union state and must pay dues as a condition of employment. While he sets out on a quest to become an agency fee payer, there is no doubt that there are other union members across the country who are angered by the announcement. This summer the NEA is making its true priorities crystal clear– students interests fall well below that of their objective to be the top donor in the 2012 election. As Andrew puts it, "In the end, the students are the ones who lose."

Click here to see Andrew's interview about his own experience with the union.

Do you think the NEA's endorsement is representative of the diverse political leanings of the overall teacher work force?

Comment below.

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