Unions

Alpay False and Misleading - He IS the union candidate...

This guy can’t talk for two minutes without repeatedly stretching the truth. Watch closely...Alpay is so steeped in union talking points, he can’t help but humiliate himself. Of course, as a lawyer he must know something about telling “the truth, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.” Somehow, this noble concept has escaped this pitiful, stealth union candidate. Oh, that’s right, this is a political campaign, we’re just the public and this shyster’s not under oath. What in the world were we thinking? Never mind.

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Erin Kutnick talks about manipulating teachers at Capo Unified

Arrogant, condescending and manipulative to a fault...the teacher union’s so-called “Children First” group leader Erin Kutnick just being herself. C-R-E-E-P-Y...and just in time for Halloween! We wonder how many union folks are aware that, in Kutnick’s mind, they are merely pawns in her grand Recall-Measure H scam. We remember how Kutnick arrogantly proposed to deny voters a say on a proposal to take away their right to vote for six of their seven trustees by turning the decision over to her Old Guard buddies and their friends on a county committee and bypassing the voters entirely! Thank goodness the incumbent Reform Trustees protected the voters and put a stop to this. Now, listen as this little narcissist explains how union members need to be manipulated to act against their will to become part of “the (translated “her”) solution.” Kutnick’s corrupt Old Guard mentor, former Fleming trustee Marlene Draper, must be mighty proud.

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"Fem-Bot Campaign Melts Down"

The reform supporters at CapoKidsFirst have posted "Fem-Bot Campaign Meltdown" on YouTube. It’s a new 3 1/2 minute video that exposes the dishonest Union-Wolves-in-Republican-Clothing strategy the CUEA and the CSEA are using to deceive the voters in their current door-to-door campaign. The video depicts the shallow, deceitful campaign being waged by these union-talking-point lemmings. Take a look, it's funny.

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Tells It Like It Is: Teachers Unions Are the Real Bullies, Waging the Politics of Raw Power

This is one of the most truthful four minute speeches you will ever see a prominent American politician give. NJ Gov. Chris Christie makes an important point: Fiscal conservatives and education reform advocates appreciate, respect, and cherish the work that the vast majority of public schoolteachers do. Educating future generations is an admirable pursuit that should be applauded. But teachers unions seek to manipulate the system in the interest of wielding power over taxpayers, school boards, parents, and students, all in the name of enriching themselves at the expense of others. This IS the struggle CUSD constituents face as the CUSD teachers union continues its dishonest, selfish war against our popularly elected Reform Trustees.

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Christie: Students Trapped By "Selfish, Greedy" & "Disgraceful" Teacher Unions

Christie speaks in Washington DC, calling Newark schools 'absolutely disgraceful'
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Reform Trustees were right ... had duty to stand up to union strikers' unreasonable demands

Unions have no legal responsibility for the solvency of the district; their duty is to their dues paying members.
The School Board has full accountability for the solvency of the district and must take whatever action is necessary to meet its legal responsibilities and protect the students and taxpayers.

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A Word About Strikes — An Editorial
By: Ron Bennett

Copyright © 2010 School Services of California, Inc.

Volume 30
For Publication Date: May 2010
No. 10

Over the past few weeks, we have seen media attention drawn toward the collective bargaining process, particularly when there has been a unilateral contract imposition by management or a strike by labor. In my opinion, we are likely to see a few—maybe quite a few—similar situations evolving over the next several months. I would like to offer some opinions on how to think about these situations and how to either avoid them or handle them appropriately.

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Union Capitulates -- Strike Over!

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Radio Commentators John & Ken:
• Interview CUSD Trustee Ken Lopez-Maddox
• Analyze the Reform Board's Great Victory


Union leaders last night finally gave up their unreasonable demand that the contract cuts imposed by the Reform Board would expire automatically on a date certain.  Unfortunately, they only did so after 2,200 teachers union members had abandoned their students and walked out on strike for three school days. Congratulations to the Reform Board for this great victory and for standing up for the students, parents and taxpayers of CUSD!

LISTEN HERE:

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BREAKING NEWS:
JOHN & KEN ANNOUNCE THAT TEACHERS UNION CAPITULATED -- STRIKE OVER! With Nation Watching, Reform Board Scores Huge Victory for the Students and Taxpayers.


"So the ten percent decrease sticks for the next three years and it's unlikely they're going to get any of the money back, which means the class sizes will remain the same, no teachers will be laid off … But what really matters is that logic won, mathematics won … what we kept saying all last week or two, 'When you're out of money, you're out of money,' and finally the union had to accept that."

"It did show you what the teachers are about, though. You've got to keep repeating this to the end of time. Teachers, when they're in their union, when their in their union context, are not nice. They don't love kids, they don't care about the kids. They love themselves, they love their money and they love their benefits. They love their union group think. There are very few rebels in the union … very few. Eighty-seven percent of the teachers voted to strike. Eighty-seven percent gave the middle finger to the students for three days. And so eventually they settled for what? For exactly the deal they had … a 10% cut."


-- John & Ken, KFI AM-640, April 27, 2010
John & Ken Apr 27 2PM sound bite
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Unions Seeking to Raise Your Taxes – by 40 Billion Dollars!

• Union Marchers Demand 40 Billion in Tax Increases!
• OC Register Condemns Unions' Demands for Tax Increases!
• CUSD Reform Trustees Reject Union’s Unsustainable Demands!
• Voters Must
SAY NO to the union’s selfish political agenda!

WARNING!

First,
in the middle of the nation’s worst economic crisis since the great depression, with the State of California buckling under the weight of unprecedented budget deficits that have crippled the ability of local cities and school districts to provide basic services to their constituents, 2,200 Teachers Union members in Capistrano Unified abandoned their students and walked out on strike…

NOW, the Teachers Union and other public employee unions are marching on Sacramento demanding that legislators increase your taxes!

Union Marchers Demand 40 Billion in Tax Increases!
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The public employee-union backed marchers arrived at the Capitol this week after 48 days on the road from Bakersfield, and Thursday presented lawmakers with their
state budget recommendations -- $40 billion in tax increases.

READ the Sacramento Bee News Report






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Media Coverage of the CUSD Teacher Union Strike

KFI Radio Condemns Teacher Union Strike in CUSD
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• Radio Commentators Bill Handel and John & Ken All Get It!
• CUSD Union Strike Is Just Politics
• Ground Zero for national campaign by Unions to grab more money, power and influence -- at the expense of the taxpayers!



LISTEN HERE:

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“Ground Zero for the future of California”
John & Ken Interview our Chairman, Tony Beall, Committee to Reform CUSD -- April 23, 2010


This strike is not about the union contract. It is all about politics -- the union's desire to take over control of the board in November.  The California Teachers Union has made CUSD a test case -- ground zero for the future of California.  If the union loses here in CUSD again, they know other districts from across California and beyond will follow the lead of the Reform Trustees in CUSD.  That is why the union has brought in the big guns from the CTA.  That is why the union has for the past two years commenced a multi-pronged attack against the Reform Board.  The union is:

1. Backing an initiative for the Nov 2010 ballot to take 6 of 7 votes away from every CUSD voter;
2. Backing the unjust recall campaign to remove two Reform Trustees;
3. Preparing to run a slate of five pro-union candidates in the November election; and
4. Striking in the middle of the current school year to further destabilize the district and cause "organized chaos" in an effort to turn voters against the Board.
KFI John & Ken Apr 23 2PM sound bite
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CUSD Superintendent: Saddened That Planned Student Walk Out Is Based on Misperceptions and Misinformation

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Contrary to union claims, Superintendent also confirms Reform Board's decision regarding CUEA negotiations substantially compromised its original pre-impasse proposal with fact finder's recommendation.



Letter to Parents re Planned K - 12 Student Walk Out
By Dr. Roberta Mahler, Interim Superintendent, CUSD

Dear Parents,

During the last week you may have read one or more e-mails advocating for a "K - 12 Student Walk-out" to take place on April 13 as a symbolic gesture of support for the teachers' union position regarding labor negotiations.  It is of significant concern to hear that students would be held out of school on a regularly scheduled and staffed school day in order to address adult issues.
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URGENT UPDATE: Capistrano Unified Budget Crisis

CUSD Reform Trustees Successfully Finalize Union Contract Terms
• Class Sizes Will NOT Be Increased
• Dozens of Teachers' Jobs Saved
• But Union Leader Threatens to Strike

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Your Elected Reform Trustees:
Were Forced to Cut $25 Million from Last Year's Budget
Must Cut $34 Million More This Year
Voted to Save Dozens of Teachers' Jobs
Voted to Preserve Smallest Possible Class Sizes

Union Leaders:
Are Now Threatening to Strike
Want Board to Lay Off Hundreds of Young, Talented, Energetic Teachers
Want Board to Increase Class Sizes
Want to Preserve Higher Salaries/Benefits for Most Senior Members at the Expense of the Students, Young Teachers and Taxpayers of CUSD!


LOOK: Photo of Teachers Union Pres. Vicki Soderberg
who wants
more money for her most senior members…
...even if it hurts our children and younger teachers!

The Capistrano Unified School Board is facing a crisis. They are being forced to cut $34 million from the 2010-2011 budget...which is especially painful because the Board members were forced to cut $25 million from this year’s budget.

Our school district was ill-prepared to deal with the State’s current budget crisis because former Superintendent James Fleming (now indicted for multiple felonies and awaiting trial) and his seven “old guard” trustees had engaged in years of gross fiscal mismanagement (e.g. massive deficit spending on an annual basis, failure to maintain adequate reserves, construction of a luxurious $52 million Administration Building).

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Teacher total compensation in Capistrano is among the highest compared to other unified school districts in Orange County

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• Capistrano’s contribution to employee health benefits ranks near the top among Orange County unified school districts
• A teacher’s career earnings are much higher in Capistrano Unified

By CUSD FACT CHECKS, Information on Issues Relating to Labor Negotiations and District Finances

The best way to evaluate the competitiveness of Capistrano Unified School District is to calculate employees’
total compensation. Salaries alone don’t give a true comparison. Health benefits are a crucial element of the total compensation package for any employee. Some school districts have higher salaries, but make their employees pay more out-of-pocket costs for their health benefits. When you add salary and benefits together, CUSD ranks among the top in total compensation among unified school districts in Orange County. Capistrano ranks well above the regional and statewide averages in total compensation according to the most recent data available from the state.

The minimum teacher salary in Capistrano is $48,899. The maximum teacher salary is $98,931. An average teacher salary is $81,845.
These figures do not include health benefits or any stipends/extra duty pay teachers often receive for being coaches, mentors, or handling special assignments.

At $61,773 in total compensation, beginning teachers in CUSD are the 3rd highest paid among unified districts in Orange County. Mid-career teachers earn $86,350 and are the 5th highest paid. Veteran teachers at the top of the pay scale are the 4th highest paid earning $109,905 including benefits for their 185-day work year.

See CUSD FACT CHECKS Fact Sheet comparing total compensation, health benefits and lifetime earnings of CUSD teachers to other Orange County school districts.
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Rumor That CUSD Teachers Have Not Received Raises Is False

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A rumor is circulating in CUSD that teachers have not received raises over the past 4 years, and further, that they did not receive raises during the earlier years under the James Fleming administration.  

Below are the documented CUSD/CUEA contract settlement amounts over 9 of the past 10 years (information for the 2004-05 contract was not available) pursuant to which CUSD teachers received aggregate raises of 32.5%. In accordance with the teachers’ salary schedule:

• Every July, each teacher gets a "step raise" of 3.5% every year for 11 years and then every 5 years until 23 years of service, and then raises if negotiated (COLA); and

• As each teacher gains education credits, he/she gets "column raises" until a masters degree is earned.
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WARNING: Public Employee Unions Have Commenced A Multi-Pronged Attack Against the C.U.S.D. Board Members

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Tony Beall delivered this inspiring speech to the OC Republican Party Central Committee on February 15, 2010, warning that powerful union leaders from across the state and nation had commenced an orchestrated, multi-pronged attack on the seven conservative Republicans serving on the CUSD Board of Trustees.



Thank you Chairman Baugh. I greatly appreciate your strong leadership and the opportunity to address the Central Committee tonight. Last month, you spoke eloquently about the many abuses we have seen with public employee unions throughout our nation and state. You spoke of the need for our country to engage in a Second American Revolution to combat the insatiable and unsustainable union appetite for scarce taxpayer dollars. I agree with you 100%. Tonight, I’m here to ring alarm bells. I’m here to tell you that one of the great battles of this Second American Revolution has already begun – right here in our own backyard.

Powerful union leaders have commenced an orchestrated, multi-pronged attack on the seven republicans serving on the CUSD Board of Trustees (each of whom was endorsed by the OC GOP).

Let me provide a bit of background.
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Union Politics Are Hurting Our Children

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• A Parents Plea to Protect Public School Students
• What Parents Need to Understand About the CUSD Budget Cuts and Collective Bargaining

An open letter to the community from CUSD parent and child advocate Dawn Urbanek

As a parent of a student in CUSD, who has attended most of the CUSD Board Meetings and Budget Workshops over the past two years, I felt compelled to write this letter. Not every parent has time to attend meetings and workshops. Those of us who do need to start sharing our knowledge with other parents to truly reflect what we as parents feel “is in the best interest of our children.”

I was really angry, and disgusted, to see teachers at my child’s school standing outside the campus Friday morning… wearing black… handing out flyers. The flyers were asking parents to contact Ellen Addonizio, the President of the Capistrano School Board, and tell her to start working with teachers during contract negotiations in a "reasonable and responsible way.".  

What happened Friday was a staged event by the CUEA (Capistrano Unified Education Association) -- the teachers union.
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"Kids First"? Hardly. The true colors of a union leader

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Albert Shanker, former AFT President

Next time you hear that tired old union baloney about putting “Kids First,” remember what the late Albert Shanker, former American Federation of Teachers president, once said:


“When school kids start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.”
Albert Shanker, The OC Register

This helps to explain the “Kids First” hypocrisy we continue to experience from union leaders, including those at CUSD, where many of their own rank and file have been influenced to ignore or deny the truth about dishonest special interest union politics.

Thanks for the brutal honesty, Albert. You’re a peach. We couldn’t have said it better.
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