Special Note: Did you think NYSUT wasn’t watching? We published this article at 12:57 and between 1:03 p.m. and 1:28 p.m., that’s in the first 30 minutes, NYSUT had visited this blog and this article 5 different times! They’re staying on top of this one!
We Have to Consider Whether the New York State United Teachers, the Teachers Union Represented by Matt Miller in the RCS Central School District is Behind the Outrageous Attacks on This Community, Our School District, and our Board of Education Members.
Teachers Union (NYSUT) & Times Union
LYNCH MOB
And we have to seriously consider whether teachers union, NYSUT, is connected or behind the Albany Times Union, our own regional whore-paper, that is consistently attacking our community, our school district, our board of education. After all, the Times Useless is a liberal rag and NYSUT is a union, after all, with loads of money to flash around.
Isn’t It Interesting That Just Days After We Published An Article Criticising Matt Miller and His Supporters that the Times Useless Publishes an Editorial Attaching the RCS Board of Education? I See a Connection, Don’t You?
We recently reported on local teachers union flapperdoodle Matt Miller’s corrupt practices (double-dipping as energy manager) and his hypocritical double standards (he and his supporters trash parents who file complaints against the district for real problems while Matt Miller files complaints because his double/triple dipping was stopped!).
We also pointed out that Matt Miller, as NYSUT’s local representative in our district, is putting in only about 1/3 teaching and in the other 2/3 of his time he’s doing union-connected activities. Even if it were the other way around, you should not be paying for his time as a union representative!
Matt Miller to New York State United Teachers Union & Times Useless: HELP ME!
Miller: HELP ME!
So, all this time we’ve been going after flapperdoodle union rep Matt “the Mutt” Miller, the teacher’s union has been reading this blog, and the Times Useless has been libeling the district and its board of education. You can bet that the e-mail and telephone lines have been smoking recently with Matt Miller and his friends at NYSUT conspiring what to do next.
And we mustn’t forget the fact that the teachers in the RCS CSD are heavily invested in what goes on with the NY State United Teachers and how effective the local representative is or isn’t. So, you can see where they’re not very happy when their own local rep is caught with his hands in the cookie jar. No! Indeed!
And, of course, the minority on the RCS board of education are all teachers or closely connected with teachers. You have Alice Whalen, a retired school teacher, Howard “Bray” Engel, a schoolteacher married to a school teacher, Edward “Teddy” Reville, who is married to Engel’s sister, and of course, our all time favorite, James Latter, whose wife is a teacher. We call that bunch the “teachers clique” on the RCS board of education and they stick together and vote as a block against anything the majority non-teachers propose. Total support for the teachers or what benefits them and total support for Matt Miller and NYSUT. If you think you or your children are somewhere in their hearts, Forgetaboutit!
Now, we have an interim school superintendent, Dr Alan McCartney, who has a fine record for progress in the school districts he’s headed in his long career. Remember, our fine RCS teachers and their fine teachers union had our graduation rates in the mid-70% range; Dr Alan McCartney had Vorheesville at almost 100%! Why would that be? Because Dr Alan McCarney won’t stand for the bullshit that has been going on in this corrupt community and will clean house if he has to. His focus is on education and achievement, not sucking everything you can out of the district (unlike Matt Miller and his pal Elizabeth “Betsy” Smith, former teacher and principal who jumped ship!).
The Coeymanazi hoard under the leadership of Cathy and Gerald “Dirty Hands Jerry” Deluca and their mob pushed the 2012-13 RCS school budget of more than $42 million through on fake promises they couldn’t keep and underhandedness. You can imagine the teachers union’s mouth watering at the thought of getting its hands on some of that dough or directing some of it to benefit its members. You betcha!
The Albany Times Union is Being Used as a Weapon of Retaliation, Harrassment, and Intimidation Against This Community and Its People!
So, what about the teachers union. You probably don’t know much about it, do you? Well, it’s a union and we all know about unions don’t we? Like the baker’s union and the Teamsters union’s role in the Hostess tragedy. In the interest of the workers at Hostess they played hardball and more than 15,000 workers lost their jobs when Hostess went bankrupt. The unions were so good at what they do that the workers were jobless but the Hostess executives collected more than $1.8 million dollars in parachute money!
But here’s the real poop: There are about 697 school districts in New York State, about 23 of those are here in the Capital District, and RCS is one of them. The teachers union, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), has about 600,000 members in New York State. NYSUT is an umbrella group which provides services to local affiliates in New York state; lobbies on the local, state and federal level; conducts research; and organizes new members.
Now, with more 690 school districts in New York state, and with at least one union rep in each of the school districts, let’s do some math. Let’s first assume that Matt Miller’s situation is not unusual for a union rep. He teaches about 1/3 of the time and does union work the other two-thirds. So let’s say the average teacher makes an average salary of about $60K (that’s actually very low, most make more.) And to be really conservative, let’s say that the average teacher/union rep teaches 50% of the time and does union the other 50% of the time. Now we know that the union reps are paid from taxpayer money and that the union reps receive their full teacher’s salary plus the many benefits provided by their contracts.
So here we have about 690 school districts each with at least 1 union rep. The teachers union rep makes an average of $60K a year as a teacher. The teachers union rep/teacher puts in 50% teaching and 50% union. This comes out to: 690 x 1 = 690 x (60,000 x .50) = 690 x 30,000 = $207,000,000 that taxpayers pay for teachers to do union work. Let me repeat that approximate figure for you: Taxpayers are paying about $207,000,000 (two hundred and seven MILLION dollars) for teachers to do union work. How’s that grab ya?
That’s $207,000,000 that is NOT coming out of the union’s pockets but is coming out of YOUR pockets to pay the teachers union reps to serve their own and the union’s interests!
Matt Miller thinks that’s OK. The teachers think that’s OK. The Times Useless thinks that’s OK. Our state and federal legislators seem to think it’s OK. But do YOU think that’s OK?
Now, good business sense would demand that the New York State United Teachers reimburse the districts for that money and that it be used for education, for what you thought it was to be used for. Right? So why doesn’t that happen?
Our Legislators at Work with NYSUT
I’ll tell you why. Because when teachers contracts come up for renewal and the teacher/union rep’s contract comes up for renewal they bring out the big guns. And union money talks. Remember, one of the things that NYSUT does for its members is lobby at state and federal levels. So our whores in Albany and Washington listen when the coins start jingling! And $207,000,000 is a lot of jingling if NYSUT doesn’t have to shell it out!
And think of the interest it can buy with the media! That’s what we think is happening at the Times Union in Albany and Hearst Corporation, who owns the Times Union.
As soon as a local board starts to rock the boat, teachers union reps, teachers, NYSUT, their affiliates the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the AFL-CIO, and the National Education Association (NEA). All start flexing their money-muscle and whores like the Times Union and Hearst Corporation and our elected officials in Albany and in Washington start shaking in their boots!
Just think: if one school district makes a small change like refusing to pay the teachers union rep and telling NYSUT they’ll have to pay him or her or at least reimburse the district for the money paid to the teacher, others might follow. Can you imagine the effect that would have on education, your tax levy, etc.?!?
It’s no wonder media like the Times Useless joins up with the crooks and looks the other way when we publish the true facts. It’s no wonder that the Times Useless ignores facts and would rather attack the men and women working for the common good of the community and the district. Could there be any other reason why the Times Useless consistently attacks the members of the board of education and makes saints of the very people screwing this community and the school district? Think about that for a moment. Then leave a comment.
The Times Useless in apparently in the Union’s pocket. Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk is too small in absolute numbers and dollars to make a difference on its own but the waves this small community can make pose a real threat to the bigger picture and the teachers union sees this as a genuine threat. RCS can be the mouse that roared and fires the shot heard around the world! So the Times Useless attacks the men and women who won’t let their rights be trampled like Rodney K., and the other board of education members who are fighting the thieving and corruption in this district. The petition that should be sent around is a referendum to demand that the money spent by this district to fund teachers union lackeys like Matt Miller be reimbursed to this district IMMEDIATELY, and that no further contracts will be honored that require this district to pay union representatives from tax dollars! Print that, Times Useless, you whore-paper!
Over the next couple of days we will publish form letters for you to fill out and send to our state and federal lawmakers, to the NYSED commissioner, and others demanding that they stop this unfair practice of paying special interests with taxpayer money immediately. We can make a start right here and now!
FIGHT BACK NOW!
The Editor
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Albany NY a.k.a. Smalbany 
notinbcdistrict
December 12, 2012 at 11:39 am
we’ll never have graduation rates like voorheesville…its a much more affluent community with low numbers of students from lower economic classes….parents are more likely to be educated themselves, not likely to collect welfare, and be involved in their kids lives. The RCS area is far different. While there are educated folks here, the fact is there are a sizable number of folks in lower socio-economic classes who are less likely to be involved with their kids and their education. No amount of money can change that, its just the way it is.
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RCS Confidential
December 12, 2012 at 12:02 pm
That’s no excuse whatsoever. There are plenty of economically challenged people all over the world who have not let poverty or social class stand in their way. That’s a cop-out if I ever heard one! Even at Wal-Mart everyone can walk in but it’s what you carry out that defines you! Not your skin color, not whether you wear Prada or Gucci, not whether you have a platinum credit card! If you think the education in this district, state, this country is elitist, then become proactive to do something about it. I don’t care what your parents make or what you make, if you want to excell, given the opportunity and the resources, you WILL excell.
With the property taxes as they are and the money budgeted for edcuation, you’d better damned well hope we can get the numbers up there! But attitudes like that in this district (Note: I didn’t say “community”) like they are, and the conspiracies and backstabbing that goes on, no matter how much money we pour into education here, the depressed will not get out of bed!
The crooks and vampires in this district want people to think just like you do; keep them discouraged and ignorant and the “elite” can stay in control. That’s going to stop SOON. The writing’s on the wall!
The Editor
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notinbcdistrict
December 14, 2012 at 3:15 pm
i’m not making an excuse….just saying thats the way it is. Its the same in the city school districts, but to a much larger extent.
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RCS Confidential
December 14, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Thank you, for your comment. I wish you would elaborate on it so that our readers can have a better idea of which point you are addressing. As for me, I’m not quite sure what you’re referring to.
Looking forward to hearing back from you!
The Editor
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Simon
December 11, 2012 at 9:51 pm
While an interesting read, and not necessarily untrue, I think the brunt of your criticism is still misdirected.
The descriptions you write of union activity at RCS is not unique to our school or this industry. The labor laws in our society provide for all the non-common-sense situations you describe. For example, the employer paying the salary of union reps while on union business. In fact, the employer can be sued if they don’t provide the time, salary and in some cases space for union work.
A coworker described this entire situation perfectly. There was a time, not so long ago, where unions were necessary to keep issues such as discrimination and harassment in check. They were necessary to address issues such as management giving themselves great insurance and a fat retirement plan and the workers got junk. However, these days there are federal laws which provide for discrimination protection, whistle blowing protection, equitable salary, etc. So, the unions have had to find other tasks to keep themselves relevant in their member’s eyes. Hence, they’ve become these huge lobbying arms, campaign contributors, and political activists. Exactly the qualities which we don’t (and shouldn’t) like.
I’m not prepared to toss out the labor union system quite yet; more and more states are passing right-to-work laws which would hopefully swing the purposes of the unions back into what they really should be – – chosen to be part of the workplace and working for the overall good of it’s members within an environment of corporate health.
We can all be upset about what’s going on at RCS. It’s getting rather tiring seeing our community trashed in the T.U. and on blogs like this. But the reality of the situation is that Mr. Miller is filling a role dictated by this crummy system under which we live.
Who knows how all this will turn out; NYSED has proven time again that it has a mind of it’s own. My skepticism tells me that NYSED will not rule on this issue by the time Mr. K’s term is up and the voters have an opportunity to decide his fate by themselves, one way or the other.
S
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RCS Confidential
December 12, 2012 at 7:04 am
Excellent commentary, Simon, until it petered out at the end and lapsed into acquiescence, or the “Oh, well, that’s the way it is.” attitude.
I stand by all that is said in the article. Just because it is the way it is doesn’t mean that it can’t or won’t be changed. It MUST change. That’s why I firmly believe that our people must wake up, smell the crap that’s going on, and scrape it off the bottom of their shoes.
I would much rather hear your take on WHY? the Times Useless has such an obsession with this community with the New York state capital just down the road. And what’s more suspicious still is that the so-called “Editorial Board” has to get involved. Now that’s very interesting in itself.
I think I hit the ogre in the tow when I suggest that NYSUT and the Times Union, together with others, are very cuddly in the same bed together in blissful fornication!
What’s your take?
Peace!
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Simon
December 13, 2012 at 1:37 pm
I don’t make excuses for the TU. They’re trying to sell papers. I canceled my subscription a few months ago. They have a source somewhere feeding them info, and they write juicy stories.
I don’t lapse into acquiescence… I described that a right-to-work movement in our state would do more to reform how unions operate in this state then trying to get Mr. Miller to pay back salary attributed to union activity. His situation is legal and expected in this state; we need to get the state to change that.
Can you imagine how the environment in New York would change if noone had to join a union in a traditional “union shop”? How the lack of dues for the unions would affect the union’s ability to lobby and be so heavy in our politician’s motives, let alone how they’d pay for their big shiny buildings?
The petitions we should be drawing up would be to compel the state to evaluate a right-to-work law.
S
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RCS Confidential
December 13, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Thank you, Simon. Unions have, in their present state of self-service and questionable lobbying power, outlived their original social justice purpose and mandate. They’re just as corrupt as Washington, where they peddle themselves like a bunch of prostitutes.
A right-to-work state would be a giant step forward not only in justice and fairness, curtailing corrupt organized labor practices, and creating an environment in which we can reevaluate our current workforce environment vis-a-vis the labor and civil rights advances made in the past 50-100 years.
New York certainly is in a Neanderthal phase of devolution. In fact, it is one of the few so-called first world entities that still has an “at will” work presumption which is the corrolary of the union’s protracted and onerous process of termination. As some of our readers may not know, the “at will” doctrine is medieval and gives the employer the right to fire any employee not protected by a contract, to terminate that employee for any reason at all, good, bad, indifferent, and not have to give a reason for the termination.
We lag far behind our European socialist cousins!
Peace!
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[redacted]
December 11, 2012 at 2:21 pm
YEA!!!! Bring it on!!!!!!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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