La Teachers Unions Showing True Colors

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Louisiana’s two teachers' unions have shown their true colors in opposing House Bill 343. HB 343 is designed to protect teachers from being harassed or coerced while on the job when it comes to joining unions or supporting political candidates. Both the Louisiana Association of Educators and the Louisiana Federation of Teachers oppose HB 343.

“Maybe the unions see this as a threat to their current practices as to how they approach nonunion members to potentially join,” said Keith Leger, director of education policy and governmental affairs for Council for a Better Louisiana or CABL.

“I think it should raise a big red flag if the two unions are going to oppose this; then to me, the question is, what are you opposing and why are you scared of having a bill that protects teachers from being harassed into joining an organization? “ asked Leger.

But Shane Riddle, legislative and political director for the Louisiana Association of Educators, said the bill could infringe on collective bargaining agreements. Riddle said the agreements allow teachers and others to discuss the agreement, send out surveys and get feedback.

"So we believe the language would circumvent some of that activity," Riddle said.

“That’s ridiculous and unfounded," said Leger. "That’s trying to make this bill much more than it is. I can’t see how this bill would circumvent any of the collective bargaining agreements. “

Leger also says only five of 69 school districts in Louisiana are involved with collective bargaining with unions.

“To not do something that is good for teachers and good for the workplace because of five districts out of 69, I just don’t think that’s good government,” said Leger.

HB 343 passed out of the House with 53 members voting yes. Only five of the yes votes were from Democrats. All of the 36 no votes came from Democrats. Democrats sell themselves as pro-teacher, yet most of them voted against a bill designed to stop harassment of teachers. It shows Democrats are not necessarily pro-teacher, but instead pro-teacher’s union.

HB 343 is already in trouble in the Senate. Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, sent the bill to the Senate Labor Committee, where Democrats have a 4-3 edge. Supporters of HB 343 say Gov. John Bel Edwards opposes the bill, and that’s why Alario, who is often seen as a puppet of the governor, sent it to a committee where he knew the bill would die. But Alario told The Advocate, "I never talked to the governor about it. Never had a conversation.”

When I asked Leger if the governor has taken a position on the bill, he chuckled, then told me he is unaware of Edwards making an official statement on the legislation. The governor’s office says Edwards is following the legislation.

“I think if you were to look at campaign contribution records, I think you would see that the unions have been very supportive of Edwards and his past campaigns," Leger said.

Louisiana’s teacher’s unions have consistently put preserving their own power above the needs of teachers and even students. Their historical battle against school choice and charter schools in Louisiana proves that.

More than half of Louisiana’s teachers do not belong to a union. Most teachers are about the kids, not the union. They understand the union will do whatever is necessary to maintain power — even if it means harassing teachers at work to join the union or back union-friendly candidates. The fact that the two teachers' unions are blocking legislation to protect teachers from harassment at the workplace should tell you all you need to know about their priorities.