THOSE D*MN UNIONS: Do-nothing teachers' union threatens Marine's job

It is a question of principle.

Apparently, today's union bosses believe that service payment to the union is more important than one's service to his country.  As a result, they would rather make an example of a retired marine by having him fired for not paying union dues than to hear his case as to why he should not be forced to pay them.

A retired U.S. Marine who runs a Massachusetts high school's ROTC program says he faces termination if he doesn't pay a $500 union fee by next week, a levy he refuses to pay because he already receives medical and dental benefits from the military.

Maj. Stephen Godin, senior naval science instructor at the Naval Junior ROTC Unit at North High School in Worcester, Mass., told FoxNews.com he has been teaching for the Educational Association for Worcester for 15 years -- including 14 at North High School -- without having to join the union or pay an "agency fee" toward the cost of collective bargaining.

"I just want to save my job here," the 58-year-old father of two said. "I've been doing this for 15 years. Nobody has ever told me to join the union or be terminated."

Unfortunately, the teachers' union may have more standing in they eyes of the law, since Mr. Godin lives in Massachusetts, one of 28 states where it is legal to force workers to pay the union or the union can have them fired.

Godin, who earns roughly $75,000 a year, said he has asked for arbitration no fewer than five times, but has not received a response from the teacher's union. He said he received a letter last month from Worcester Public School officials indicating he will be fired on June 15 if he fails to pay the agency fee.

"It's really nothing," Godin said of the amount. "It's the principal [sic] of the matter. I think they're trying to extort money from me. They do nothing for me."

In this case, while they may have the legal right to have Major Godin fired, on principle*, the teachers' union is just plain WRONG..  To think, this retired marine fought for freedom for his country and his fellow Americans--some of whom are those very teachers' union bosses who are now trying to have him fired.

[* Then again, like morals, principles seem to be what are lacking with so many of today's union bosses.]

Read the rest of Major Godin's story here.
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“I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.” Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

For more news and views on today’s unions, go to LaborUnionReport.com.

No Comment: Unions Upset With 'Human Train Wreck' Eric Massa

In less than a month, Democrat Eric Massa has gone from relative obscurity to shock and speculation, then short-lived notoriety, and, finally, the ignominious FUBAR of what Democrat strategist Bob Shrum is calling a "human train wreck."

It's not a particularly good way to spend one's 15 minutes of fame but, it is politics after all and, so often, pols' careers end with a *SPLAT.*

Poor, unfortunate Democrat Eric Massa.  He's been caught with his hands (reportedly) in on the proverbial staff cookie jar, forced to resign, which has led him to admit and deny the groping (read more about "Massa Massages" here), boast complain of a nude confrontation with Rahm Emmanuel, a White House conspiracy, a waste of Glenn Beck's audience's time and, now, he's got his union donors to face.

Over the course of Massa's short political career, unions have given the staff-groping pol $538,000 of their members' money and they're none too pleased at the waste.

"[P]eople say Washington politics is a freakshow, and Eric Massa is writing a whole new chapter," said CNN senior political analyst David Gergen.

So, where does this leave Massa's legion of bankrollers who supported him during times less lascivious?

Alternately disappointed and angry, with an undercurrent of bamboozlement.

Some say they believe Massa should consider donating or returning his remaining campaign funds, which through December totaled nearly $644,000. Others want no part of such discussion – or Massa himself.

Jim Spellane, media director for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said his organization is experiencing some "buyer's remorse" regarding its $34,500 in contributions to Massa.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC first decided to donate to Massa "in consultation with the local level" of its organization, Spellane explained.

"The goal was to elect those who supported the issues of working people," he said.  But Spellane declined to comment on whether he believes Massa should refund that money – the largest total contribution to the embattled politico by any single PAC.

Other PACs and organizations that had once supported Massa with five- and six-figure donations are completely disinclined to now discuss their association with him.

"We have no comment on any of that," said Paul Doell of the American Maritime Officers PAC, which has donated $10,000 to Massa this election cycle.

It just goes to show when you cross paths with a human train wreck, there's bound to be carnage.
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“I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.” Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

Follow LaborUnionReport on Twitter.

For more news and views on today’s unions, go to LaborUnionReport.com.

Employee Free Choice Act Could Jeopardize Right to Work Laws

While this issue was grossly under-reported last year (except through EmployerReport.com), a bill was introduced in Congress (HR 6477, view here) to eliminate the ability of states to have Right to Work laws.

Now, Kevin Mooney at the Washington Examiner has written how enactment of the hallucinogenically-named Employee Free Choice Act could place Right-to-Work states at risk of becoming forced unionization states.

Employee Free Choice Act could jeopardize "Right to Work" laws, Cantor Says Washington Examiner

For more information on unions' Pay-Dues-or-be-Fired Scheme, go here.

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