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Education Funding & Worker Power in Washington What’s at stake for our students, our families, and our jobs.

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Presentation on theme: "Education Funding & Worker Power in Washington What’s at stake for our students, our families, and our jobs."— Presentation transcript:

1 Education Funding & Worker Power in Washington What’s at stake for our students, our families, and our jobs

2 Where does Washington stand when it comes to investing in education? Funding per pupil: 40 th in the nation % of taxable funds spent on education: 38 th This means we COULD be doing much better

3 What it means for our kids and our members? 47 th in class size 46 th in % of HS grads enrolling in college

4 Our members see what’s happening every day

5 Children with severe challenges aren’t getting the help they need to succeed in life

6 Workers must choose between walking away from kids who need their help or working for no pay

7 There are lots more stories like these Too many In every corner of our state Our job is to make sure these stories get told

8 1 student or 1 worker can’t get her story heard if she’s alone Together we can That’s why we say, “Belong and Be Strong!”

9 But WHY is education under- funded in the first place?

10 Who wins when education is under-funded? Not children Not workers Not a state that needs educated workers and citizens

11 Giant Corporations Oppose Paying Their Fair Share Boeing’s 2013 tax break: $8.7 billion Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella makes more in 1 year than the whole company pays in state business taxes!

12 Washington Ranking in Tax Fairness 50th!

13 Share of family income paid in state & local taxes

14 IS this FAIR?

15 It all comes down to this: Whose got the POWER? Corporations? Or Working Families?

16 What’s happened to fairness in America?

17

18 1935: Wagner Act Deregulation of trucking & airlines Privatizing in Public Sector 1981: Reagan Fires PATCO Strikers Private Sector Union busting 1947: Taft- Hartley Act Friedrichs v. CTA ?

19 Big Money Corporations Have Been Attacking Unions for over 40 years How have they done so far? Who do they want to target now? 6.6% 35.7%

20 “We have implemented a plan to bankrupt SEIU, our state’s largest union.” -Tom McCabe, CEO, Freedom Foundation The Olympian October 3, 2015

21 The “Freedom Foundation” claims to be concerned about workers who pay union dues.

22 They are so “concerned” that they sent some SEIU members Christmas cards.

23

24 Mailing sent Dec 2014 followed by door knocks January 2015

25 What is the Freedom Foundation’s real agenda? What is the goal of the corporate executives who fund their operation?

26 The Freedom Foundation’s real agenda: Against smaller class sizes Against spending more on education Against raising minimum wage Against paid sick time for public workers

27 They want to take away workers’ power because workers are starting to win again.

28 Underfunded schools, lower pay & benefits Merry Christmas from the Freedom Foundation:

29 For more information about the Freedom Foundation http://nwaccountabilityproject.com/

30 So what is their next move?

31 Corporate-backed groups like the National Federation of Independent Business, Freedom Foundation, and many others are backing the Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association case as a way to destroy public sector unions.

32 Working Definition of “Right-to-Work” Legislation, policies, or decisions that allow a person to work at any place without having to become a full member of the union or pay representation fees (fair share provisions).

33

34 Who wins if unions disappear? Who loses if unions disappear? What do they lose?

35 Crystal Lee Sutton (Norma Rae in the movie) stood up for her union in 1974 What will it take to win in 2016?

36 There are many examples of strong local unions that fight effectively for workers that have membership of 95% or higher in “Right to Work” states. What’s their secret?

37 Member Engagement When every worker is personally connected to the union, the union will stay strong…regardless of what the courts say.

38 Member Engagement We’re all in this TOGETHER!

39 A strong union is like a family We might not always agree, but we always stick together.

40 Does every member feel like they are part of the union family? We’re all in this TOGETHER! Are there new hires who think the reason you pay dues is to keep your job? Or someone who never comes to a meeting and never talks with a steward?

41 Does she feel like she’s part of the union family?

42 What will she do if someone tells her that she could save hundreds of dollars a year if she drops out of the union? My family at home could sure use the money I’d save

43 Now is the time to make sure every member knows they are part of our union family! How are you doing? Let’s talk Member Leader In Action

44

45 Now is the time to make sure every member knows they are part of our union family! OK…but I could use a raise

46 Now is the time to make sure every member knows they are part of our union family! We’re all in the same boat. That’s why we need to stick together in our union.

47 Now is the time to make sure every member knows they are part of our union family! We’re all in this TOGETHER!

48 Now is the time to make sure every member knows they are part of our union family! We’re all in this TOGETHER!

49 Now is the time to make sure every member knows they are part of our union family! We’re all in this TOGETHER!

50 I’m so glad we had a chance to talk. Now I understand that our union fights for things that really matter to me. We have to keep it strong!

51 Member Engagement 3 conversations make all the difference 1)Welcome conversation – with co-workers on her first day at work. 2)Check-in conversation - with a union activist at least once a month 3)“We need to stick together” conversation – If a member drops out (or is thinking about it.)

52 1. A worker’s first day at work

53 Hi!

54 1. A worker’s first day at work Welcome! We work here too. Everything going OK? Got any questions?

55 1. A worker’s first day at work Not right now, but it’s really nice to meet you. The first day on a job can feel lonely 00000sometimes

56 1. A worker’s first day at work One of the good things about working here is that we all stick together

57 1. A worker’s first day at work That’s good to know

58 1. A worker’s first day at work So here is your union card to sign.

59 1. A worker’s first day at work You definitely want to be part of the union. We all pay our dues, and it’s really worth it.

60 1. A worker’s first day at work OK

61 2. Every few weeks…at least once a month

62

63

64

65 Hey, how’s it going?

66 2. Every few weeks…at least once a month OK

67 2. Every few weeks…at least once a month I wanted to get your thoughts on something our union is looking into

68 3. Very rarely…but we’ll need to be ready They said you wanted to drop out of our union. What’s going on?

69 3. Very rarely…but we’ll need to be ready You and I are good friends. You know if you drop out it hurts all of us. It hurts you. It hurts me. We need to stick together.

70 3. Very rarely…but we’ll need to be ready Here’s a new card you can sign and date today. That way you’ll still be in the union and we’ll all be together. If there’s a problem, let’s talk it over.

71 3. Very rarely…but we’ll need to be ready OK

72 Member Engagement When every worker is personally connected to the union, it’s rare for someone to drop out. If they do, a conversation with co-workers they know personally will usually convince them to stay.

73 Member Engagement We’re all in this TOGETHER!

74 Can we build a network of member leaders who will: 1)Welcome every new hire and sign them up? 2)Check in regularly with every worker? 3)Be ready to talk with any worker about sticking together with their co-workers if they consider dropping out?

75 What leaders can do: 1)Engage the folks who we talk to now – they need to be clear on what we’ve won, what we are fighting for today, and how corporate interests plan to stop us. 2)Look at our lists and figure out who we need to start talking with. Who can help? (See #1 above) 3)Get out and talk with everyone. -We can’t afford to wait till they come to a meeting.

76 Member Engagement in PSE

77 Average for all of PSE is 28%

78 Member Engagement in PSE

79 Activists in PSE by Seniority 50%

80 Activists in PSE by Seniority 50% 34%

81 Activists in PSE by Seniority 50% 34% 8%

82 Activists in PSE by Seniority 50% 34% 22% 8%

83 Discussion

84


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