I just received an email from our state teacher's union. Apparently the organization below is about to start a statewide (and likely nationwide) anti-union disinformation campaign. It appears to be timed to attack teachers just as school starts.
Here's what our state union sent out:
We have just learned that an anti-union organization calling itself the Center for Union Facts (CUF) is launching a campaign for television, radio, and full-page print ads running in Portland, Eugene, Medford-Klamath Falls, and Bend.
This advertising campaign is a direct attack on OEA members.
We are currently in the process of researching the exact content of the ads. Initial information suggests that the ads aim to persuade Oregonians that public employee unions are driving up the cost of public services. The ads will highlight the lobbying work of OEA and other public employee unions, and suggest that public employee pensions, benefits, and wages are too high because of union lobbying. The ads will suggest that OEA lobbying, which is funded by member dues, is "tax-payer funded."
THE ANTI-UNION WEBSITE SAYS (in small part):
Lists number of 'Racketeering Indictments,' "Unfair labor practices filed against unions," "Union Leadership 95% white, male.."
And oddly, lists 'Total Union Assets - 15.7 billion" and Union membership - 12.7 million.... as if these two facts alone were somehow threatening.
Of course, all of the 'worst' claims they make about unions apply far better to corporations. Union leadership 95% white, male, undemocratic, etc.
It's a very Karl Rove type strategy, in my view.
We teachers start back to school next week, and we need to focus on education, NOT 'covering our backs.'
As a local union rep, these anti-union attacks bother me so much, I could just spit/hack up a furball.
Our state union is pulling together 'talking points' to help local union officers combat this nonsense.
But any information I can get on these folks would help.
Here's their site.... (god, I hate linking to it)
Here's the national page.
http://unionfacts.com/
Here's the Oregon page.
http://www.unionfacts.com/...
Pricks.