**Teacher Says She Wanted Her Union Dues to Go to Pro-Life and Gun Rights Groups.

[PocketProtector]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015...rights-groups/



Teacher Says She Wanted Her Union Dues to Go to Pro-Life and Gun Rights Groups. Their Response Has Her Suing.

Jun. 29, 2015 10:10am Billy Hallowell

A public school teacher in Pennsylvania is suing the largest union in the state over the claim that she is being forbidden from donating mandated dues to pro-life and gun rights groups.
Linda Misja, a language at Apollo-Ridge High School in Spring Church, Pennsylvania, filed a lawsuit against the Pennsylvania State Education Association earlier this month, claiming that her dues have been held up for three years in an escrow account amid ongoing debate.

Misja, a Catholic, has battled with officials to find a middle ground on nonreligious charities that the money can be donated to, leading her to finally file a federal lawsuit to address the matter, the Pittsburgh Tribune‑Review reported.

She pays a “fair share fee,” which is a sum teachers who are not part of the union pay due to the fact that they still benefit from contract negotiations despite not being members, according to the outlet.

The union secured the right to charge the fee back in 2012, setting the stage for a debate between Misja and the union, according to The Fairness Center, the group that is representing the teacher.

“It’s been a worry for me that my money might be going to support causes that go against my deep personal beliefs,” the veteran teacher told the Tribune‑Review.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association allows for non-members who file religious exemptions to designate their fair-share fee to non-religious causes that are agreed upon by both parties.

Misja filed that request in 2012, but the two charities that she suggested were reportedly rejected by the union; People Concerned for the Unborn Child, a pro-life group, and the National Rifle Association Foundation were both declined.

[free]

Why should unions be donating money to ANYBODY? Any money they collect that is not directly spent on administering the union and its legitimate expenses, incurred on behalf of its members, should be returned to the members. Under no circumstances should "union funds" be used for general political lobbying purposes.

[rckeystone]

Why should unions be donating money to ANYBODY? Any money they collect that is not directly spent on administering the union and its legitimate expenses, incurred on behalf of its members, should be returned to the members. Under no circumstances should "union funds" be used for general political lobbying purposes.

Agreed and I would add they shouldn't be donating to political parties/candidates either.

[Exbiker]

You can't tell the PSEA where to put your dues money BUT you can have that portion of dues not taken from your pay. Then you can spend it how you see fit. You also don't have to join the PSEA but you'll still have to pay a portion of the dues(fair share) but lose voting rights.

[gummy jones]

ahhhh unions. setting up and paying for your own version of "the man" to fight "the man."

nothing like getting double screwed (triple screwed if you figure in the fact that they all support dems).

[ungawa]

Why should unions be donating money to ANYBODY? Any money they collect that is not directly spent on administering the union and its legitimate expenses, incurred on behalf of its members, should be returned to the members. Under no circumstances should "union funds" be used for general political lobbying purposes.

Welcome to Earth? Is this your first visit?

If you want me to take you to my leader then we are headed to the Union Boss' house. They run the fucking country.

[Jhaydeno]

You can't tell the PSEA where to put your dues money BUT you can have that portion of dues not taken from your pay. Then you can spend it how you see fit. You also don't have to join the PSEA but you'll still have to pay a portion of the dues(fair share) but lose voting rights.

^^^^ I argue with my wife (H.S. Chemistry teacher) all the time about her paying full dues ($640 last year). I see a Wolfe or Obutthole commercial and I, "say look what your dues paid for"! She just gets pissed at me.

The fair share portion that all teachers are supposed to pay is NOT supposed to include any money for politics and support. It is only to cover the costs of the negotiations and the non-political portion of the union that negotiated the contract under which you work. I don't believe this lawsuit has merit.

Although we all know the union is a scam, sham, and politicized beyond belief, they have done a good job of extracting money from the taxpayers!

[JenniferG]

The only way to solve the "union" problem is to make the State a right to work state.

[free]

The only way to solve the "union" problem is to make the State a right to work state.

That's racist.

Not everyone WANTS to work.

It needs to be a right to welfare state.

[Don Quixote]

I remember making a comment on Facebook about some TV show where the celebrities donated their winnings to charity (I think it was Top Chef). I wondered what the reaction would be if one of them said their charity was "The NRA". The debate started with "The NRA is not a charitable organization" to which I pointed out that it was a non-profit organization, It ended with "NAMBLA is probably non-profit too". So quickly we were put on the same level as Pedophiles.