Ugly:
I found my official reprimand from a union incident. Here is what happened. I plugged an amplifier into a socket so I could use my keyboards for the marching band show (we were doing blues brothers and I had an organ programed). Some union jockey comes running out and unplugs me because I did not ask permission and was not authorized to use any sockets in that "zone". So, I plug it back in, he takes it out. I tell him I can not rehearse the band without the keyboard. He says union rules say I was supposed to fill out so and so approval form and unplugs it. I plug it back in an dare him to touch it again. He does and there is an altercation (I was young). He goes and gets his buddies (I wondered if he he had to fill out a form first) and comes back. They must have all been on their one hour coffee break because by the time they got back practice was over anyway and I was packing up to go home. Anyway, my faculty union rep gets with his staff union rep and a few days later I get reprimanded for not filling out the form (it's a freaking light socket!) Our faculty reps job was obviously not one of instruction she taught one class and spent the rest of the time "representing us" by making sure everybody got the same size piece of cake regardless of how much or how little they did (this may be the case here to... I do not know). And, the only thing she excelled in was being an icon of mediocrity... and planning cool parties for union members (which meant the whole faculty/staff because we were all forced to join or we did not get to work... wait this is the U.S. right?... shut up pay your dues).

Bad:
While teaching middle school I watched coach Lopez get an automatic raise through union negotiating even though he spent less time teaching math than showing videos and coaching the tennis team (exaggeration). It was just his turn. Simple as that. I asked him if he was going to use his raise to buy more videos for his math class. I hope my daughter never gets a teacher like that. I can buy my own videos.

Good:
I do have a friend who was being racialy harrassed by her pricipal.  She can not talk about it because she is currently in court (and winning), the principal lost her job, and the school system is trying to keep it from getting in the news. My friend now teaches in a northern suburb of the that city. The union's teachers rep was a major resource for her and helped her through tough times. And, I did see some other good stuff happen as well. Though I would never consider it to be an even trade.

Faculty Senate
There have been many established profs especially members of the senate who have taken the time to write to me explaining the reasons behind some of the discontent. These people are great and I have learned much. I am able to see where I made mistakes based on lack of information. It makes me wonder. Aren't these people enough? They seem to be influential, thoughtful, and reasoned so what would a union add that these people do not? It does not matter who I agree with, what I do believe is that the senate and administration can work things out. Naive perhaps, I just have faith that both want what is best for the university and so, they will work things out.

Not anti union:
I belonged to one when I was 14 years old picking cucumbers and watermelons in Bushnell, Florida for what equalled a dollar an hour (more if you got paid by the bushel and were fast) but it was the only job someone under 16 could get (no dues were paid and the reps did not get paid, unlike some unions whose reps make more than those they are repping). I saw things that would make your hair stand on end (why I shaved mine). Those people needed unions. I fail to see much of what they went through as compared to what we go through now. Sorry.

Labor union yes, Professional Union No.


stuart