Does this seem right?

[coriolis]

Workers at Ward Manufacturing, a regional industry, recently were on strike for about 1 month. The workers are members of Local 304B of the Glass, Molders and Plastic Union. The strike has been settled amicably, with benefits being maintained, and some modest pay increases. Ward makes industrial and automotive metal castings and is under pressure from imported castings. All well and good so far.

The Williamsport Sun Gazette reports "that county-wide support was overwhelming. The local of the teachers union, the Southern Tioga Education Association showed support and contributed to the strike fund. The president of the teachers union wrote in a letter: "At a time like this it is important for unions to support each other." Staff at Blossburg Elementary School and North Penn High School organized a food drive with each class assigned non-perishable items for collection. A letter sent home asked parents to continue to donate food items each week until the strike was over. One class at Canton High School took the time to send a letter to the union telling the workers that they supported their actions."

Is it just me, or did the teachers union take unfair advantage of the students and their families in this?

[vbhoutex]

Definitely I think they took advantage of the students. I know if I had been a parent in the situation, 2 things would have happened-1. My child(ren) would not have participated and 2. I would have asked the school board to discipline those responsible. I know some will say that this is a good way to learn charity at home, etc. and a good way to learn how the democratic process works, etc. To that I say bunk!!! The same thing as far as the process can be taught without using the students and their families to support another union.

[streetsoldier]

I agree, in principle; but, if this plant is THE major industry in the area, and most of those parents are either employed or otherwise affected by the strike, I can see VOLUNTARY donations asked for...but by the plant union itself, NOT a teacher's union through the school making it mandatory.

[stormraiser]

I had the same thought as Bill. I think a drive by some civic group might be ok, but by the teachers union for union members? I don't think the children should be dragged into this.

[coriolis]

Here's the letter to the editor of the local paper that I wrote today:

The April 10 article about the Ward Strike being settled, raised some unsettling issues. It was reported that the Souuthern Tioga Education Association made a donation to the strike fund, that a food drive was organized at the schools with a letter sent home to the parents asking for donations, and that one class took the time to send a letter of support to the union.

The teachers union had no business bringing the children into this issue. Undoubtedly, many children of Ward employees attend the Southern Tioga Schools. How would the children of the striking workers feel about receiving charity? Were these children "excused" from making donations? Were these children identified at school? For the sake of these children, I hope that this was treated confidentially.

If I remember correctly, the vote to strike was not unaminous. Therefore, some of these children (and their families) were being asked to support a cause that the parents may not have supported. Further, I would imagine that the children of Ward Managers also attend these schools. So these families were being asked to support the opposition in this matter. If the letter of support was written as a class project, it is clearly a case of political indoctrination.

Finally, if this food drive was organized at school, with "assignments" being given to various classes, and a letter being sent home, that means that time and money was spent on a union activity during school hours! Did the school district pay for the paper and ink to reproduce these letters? Were school computers and email used for this?

It seems to me that the teachers union went over the line, spending taxpayers money inappropriately, using time belonging to the public, and giving a biased message to the children.

Food drives such as this are a good thing, but they should be conducted with the unions resources, or by private organizations outside of the school.

[Stephanie]

Let us know if you hear anything Ed. I think that the teacher's union should've only sent the letter to THE TEACHERS and let them help out. A civic group fund raiser would've been good too, but I don't think that it should've gone all the way down to the student level.

Perhaps a message or information on what needed to be donated and who was collecting them would've been the best thing to list in the local paper.