Incivility, Thy Name is Union
Posted on February 12, 2008 at 1:41 pm by WTH
Rhode Island resident Bill Felkner is wondering why Pat Crowley, “the $84,000 per year Assistant Executive Director of the RI affiliate of the National Education Association and the Lincoln Democrat Party chairman,” feels it necessary to give his opponents “the finger” as he protests in public to enlarge union power? At a recent Tiverton teacher contract negotiation protest, Crowley is pictured giving his … um…. civil reply to those who stand against the union.
This fits in nicely with the incivility and general ignorance that so typifies union thuggery, but this particular incident is all the more sad because this ignorant behavior is on behalf of a Teachers union. You know, teachers? The ones to whom we entrust the care and education of our children?
On his blog, Felkner wonders aloud about the propriety and practicality of the current union goals.
Crowley and the NEA published in the Westerly Sun recently, trying to tell us that RI’s welfare system is just fine and we should continue business as usual. First you may ask why is an organization that represents public school employees lobbying for the welfare industry. For that answer you should know that the SIEU (another union) is very hard at work trying to unionize welfare workers, including day care providers. And who could forget the connection between the NEA and the AFL-CIO. Frank Montanaro is the President of the AFL-CIO and also the Chairman of the Board for Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). Could that be the reason that most teacher contracts in RI are REQUIRED to only provide BCBS insurance for teachers? Chariho even gives a bonus to employees if they use that carrier.
Felkner has also written a fine letter detailing the good reasons to resist the union thuggery in Rhode Island. Go on over and read the whole thing at the Chariho School Parents’ Forum.
I’d say that with the low character of the teachers union representatives in RI, the state may earn its Revolutionary War nickname back. In those early days of the Republic, Rhode Island was filled with so many crooks and troublemakers that the entire place was called “Rogue’s Island” by the rest of the colonies.
Pat Crowley is certainly living up to that epithet!
(By the way, look up the name Aleister Crowley and wonder if he and ol’ Pat are related!?)
February 13th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
As a past union member and even spending time as the “griever” I am ashamed of what (even) the good unions have become. A safe haven for losers, noncoms,lazy idiots, and people with no class at all…. supporting only more, more, more, but giving less and less!
I am ashamed to admit being ever a union man.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:37 am
that picture shows the small minded mentality not only of union rep’s but also most of our public officials. Including our congressmen. What in the world would the Founders of this great Country think? OH for the opportunity too vote for a true Statesman. Rich
February 15th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Yes every institution has its pitfalls and unions are no different. In the past unions protected American workers and actually gave them rights. The rights that most people take for granted today. Yes there is corruption in some unions (so how is that different that any other company or institution or government in that case?) I am a union member i served a 5 yr apprenticeship in an accredited trade and I have seen the poor quality of work from my right to work competitors. Bear this in mind americans by nature want everything cheap, so quality and standards suffer. I can go on and on with examples but would you want a professional with a set standard of education, competancy or who ever someone sees fit. Dont worry all those rights that those union people fought for and you enjoy are slowly being erroded so you can welcome back the late 1800s and 1900s working 12hr days 7 days a week for pennies an hour .