Union Dues and Don'ts

October 23, 2003

Dear Editor,

(Re: "LETTERS: Union Politics," Oct. 15, 2003)

I would like to set the record straight publicly (I was both Treasurer and Political Action Chair prior to being elected Vice President, so I do know a thing or two about this issue).

Very close tabs are kept upon all union dues and none of those dues are spent on political action. Some members voluntarily join the 100 club and have $100 deducted from their paychecks tenthly to fund political action. Some locals have a check off system whereby members may designate a portion of their dues for political action (but that is not presently the case in Santa Monica or Malibu).

But not a single dime is spent on political matters without the consent of the union member. Also, all spending by CTA must be approved by the Rep Assembly which meets quarterly (and includes a Republican Caucus which I have visited).

The idea that CTA or NEA is far left of the mainstream finds most of its support among the Rush Limbaughs of the world -- people who can't find the truth or their belt buckle with both hands.

Teachers tend to be moderates, as are the policies of CTA or NEA -- which you would know if you read them rather than relying upon what... well, what everyone knows... or thinks they know.

Marc J. Sanschagrin
SMMCTA, CTA & NEA

October 22, 2003

Dear Editor,

The outcome of this strike in California will most definetly have a ripple effect across the entire nation when contracts come to term. ("Local Strikers Brace for Prolonged Battle," Oct. 21, 2003)

I have been employed by Jewel Foods, a member of the Albertson`s Family for 38 years. The news media here in Chicagoland mentions absolutely nothing about this strike. Considering there are tens of thousands of grocery workers in and around every major city in our great country, wouldn't you think this would be important for the media to give us an update on the progress of negotiations in California.

We are all interested in the outcome. Like I e-mailed our corporate office, we the employees are not the enemy you as company leaders should be fighting. Corporate has declared Wal Mart the true enemy. Yet Corporate has done very little to fight Wal Mart.

The U.F.C.W. and its locals have done far more to fight Wal Marts intrusion, by establishing pickets and information centers and trying to organize those workers. They failed but we members applaud their efforts. Our Corporations are doing nothing but demoralizing their troops by cutting their rations in a War On Wal Mart.

After it's all said and done and our members go back to work, The Corporate Leaders will expect nothing but smiles and terrific attitudes to show up in the work place, to forget their attack on their own team members, to forget that Corporate was messing with their livelyhood, taking food from their children and giving their families less medical coverage.

You can bet too, if Corporate wins this battle against its own troops, the commanders will get a healthy BONUS. It's the store employees that meet and serve the customers on a daily basis. The Corporate leaders take the credit for the success of the business, and are well compensated. But it's the stocker, the checker, the bagger and the store team that puts the final product together to serve the consumer.

Thanks,