Why I belong to a union
"Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost." - Ronald Reagan
"The American Labor Movement has consistently demonstrated its devotion to the public interest. It is, and has been, good for all America." - John F. Kennedy
In belated honor of Labor Day and as the new president of the Coeur d'Alene Education Association, I want to explain why I am a member of the CEA.
The forbearers of unions were the guilds of the Middle Ages that developed to train artisans and ensure quality workmanship. Modern labor unions came into existence to protect the rights of skilled and unskilled workers from business owners during the Industrial Revolution. Today, healthy unions attempt both to ensure the professionalism and competence of members and to protect their right to fair wages, benefits, and safe, effective working conditions.
Over time we as a nation have developed laws to address some aspects of workers rights - the minimum wage, 40-hour work week and weekend, overtime pay, workers compensation for injuries on the job, unemployment insurance, etc. These laws were adopted because of demands by unions for protection of worker rights and dignity, and recognition by voters and politicians that these laws would benefit society.
Basically there are three ways for a society to protect workers' rights.
1) We can trust the goodwill and judgment of owners to recognize that a business cannot exist separate from the community and customers that support it. In a competitive market system, that trust is highly uncertain.
2) We can rely on government to protect workers by making laws mandating fair treatment, minimum wages, maximum hours and safe working conditions. But government works slowly and is often inefficient as individual lawmakers represent special interests or ideological positions.
Or, 3) We can allow workers to represent themselves collectively in their negotiations with owners/employers.
The reality is that in modern society, we use all three mechanisms. The union model of collective bargaining and united action requires workers to be knowledgeable, organized, and involved. These qualities are beneficial to society because they encourage individual initiative, competition, and efficiency. While collective bargaining is often contentious, the competition between workers and employers virtually ensures economic efficiency through the pursuit of each group's interests and mutual dependence.
In my experience with the CEA/IEA/NEA, I have been impressed with the patriotism and devotion to democratic principles and rule of law of these entities. The NEA Representative Assembly held annually brings together 8,000-9,000 representatives from 50 states plus Foreign Service Educators representing roughly equal thirds of the political spectrum - liberal, moderate, and conservative. These delegates VOTE on the positions that their organization takes, the projects they undertake, the legislative goals they pursue. Generally, extreme positions are mitigated to create a compromise tolerable for all.
The critical question in deciding whether to become a union member is how that union balances and accomplishes its dual goals: protecting the rights of members, and encouraging and promoting the improvements in expertise within the organization. Both of these goals are essential for the organization to function effectively as a healthy component of the free market system. Without protecting worker rights and establishing procedures for improvement and expertise, the risk-taking necessary to progress and improve is diminished.
I began my career just paying my dues (literally) without much knowledge or concern for what the CEA/IEA/NEA did to support and protect me as a professional educator. Over more than 20 years I have seen the professionalism of CEA members and witnessed the efforts of the CEA, IEA, and NEA to protect public education and the rights and benefits of public school professionals.
As CEA president, I will serve with certified educators, Education Support Personnel (paraprofessionals, custodians, kitchen staff, bus drivers, etc.), and the District 271 administration to achieve and maintain a local system of public education that benefits students and teachers, our noble profession, and our community. If you are a teacher, counselor, or education support personnel in District 271, please consider becoming a member of the Coeur d'Alene Education Association or the parallel organization in your area (PFEA, LEA, etc.), and support members of these organizations as the professionals they are.
Derek Kohles teaches English at Lake City High School.