Florida

The Florida Education Association (FEA) has joined with the Florida AFL-CIO and other unions with members in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) to campaign against Governor Jeb Bush's proposal to invest as much as $180 million of FRS assets in Edison Schools, Inc.

The buyout, approved by Edison shareholders, would make this money-losing firm private and give Edison founder Chris Whittle a sweet package: a seat on the company board, a salary increase of at least 42 percent, eligibility for a bonus equaling 245 percent of salary, and a $1.68 million loan.

Beyond the very idea of sinking public pension dollars into a vehicle for school privatization, the deal's timing stinks. The New York Times reports that Florida retirees are "still smarting" from the loss of a $420 million pension fund investment in Enron and WorldCom.

New Mexico

A broad coalition, including NEA-New Mexico (NEA-NM), has won passage of two ballot measures that inject accountability and funding into the School Reform Act of 2003. Amendment 1 creates a new cabinet position of Secretary of Education, while Amendment 2 directs more resources annually from the Permanent School Fund--some $62 million a year for each of the next 12 years--to pay for reforms such as a new three-level teacher licensure system based on rigorous state criteria. The system is linked to minimum teacher salary levels, such as a $50,000 floor in four years for Level III educators.

NEA-NM local affiliates mobilized voter turnout through a "Give Me Five" campaign, in which each activist pledged to deliver five "yes" votes. The payoff: Amendment 2 passed by a razor-thin 92,198-92,003 margin.

Department of Defense (DoD)

Despite intensive lobbying by members of the Federal Education Association (FEA), Congress has finalized language in the Fiscal Year 2004 defense authorization bill that could put the union rights of 740,000 civilian DoD employees--including 9,000 educators in schools for DoD dependents--at risk. This provision "gives the Secretary of Defense the authority to essentially change 50 years of practice and strip workers of their rights, including the possibility of limiting their collective bargaining and due process rights," says FEA President Sheridan Pearce. "We?ll continue to protect our members in every way possible."

California

In October, the California Teachers Association (CTA) donated $18,000 to support 70,000 United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) members on strike at Ralphs, Vons, and Albertsons supermarkets. CTA also urged its 335,000 members and the public not to cross UFCW picket lines--and to shop at other union stores.

One key strike issue: the owners' attempt to raise employees' health care costs. UFCW members were "fighting for something that is very near and dear to us--health care," said CTA President Barbara Kerr. "Their struggle has implications for us all."

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) and other unions have testified against a bill that would dramatically change the municipal collective bargaining law, tipping the balance of power in favor of employers. Using "cyberlobbying," WEAC members have also urged legislators to oppose the legislation.

"That input is priceless," says WEAC President Stan Johnson. "Legislators listen to their constituents. Member activism is crucial as we battle an anti-union, anti-public education legislature in the next few months."

Texas

Big surprise. The Texas State Teachers Association won a major class action grievance over oppressive paperwork in the Skidmore-Tynan Independent School District.

Among other things, the grievance settlement frees teachers from putting detailed state standard/assessment information in lesson plans, writing and turning in Curriculum Guides every two weeks, and completing nine forms not required by the state Education Code.

The frosting on the cake: Teachers can now decline to consent to any forms/paperwork not required by the state code.

Washington

Members of the Marysville Education Association (MEA) returned to work without a new contract October 22 after conducting the longest teachers' strike in Washington history--50 days. So they tried something different: On November 4, these educators helped toss out three incumbent school board members and elect three MEA-backed challengers by a landslide.

There's still a new contract to bargain, but MEA now has reason for optimism. "We look forward to working with the three new board members," says MEA President Elaine Hanson. "They are good people who respect and value teachers."