As Washington families well know, executives at the powerfully-entrenched WEA union are fond of calling strikes to close schools, generally timing their strike action to inflict maximum pain on public school families and children.  In recent years the union has closed school house doors to thousands of children.

In the photo above, staff workers hold a demonstration against WEA union executives calling for a fair contract.  

Now staff workers are planning a strike against WEA union executives themselves.  Members of the WEA Staff Organization (WEASO) have been working without a contract, and are calling on union executives to provide them with basic respect and a fair contract.  If union executives do not meet their demands, WEASO says, the staff organization will go on strike against the union.

The situation is ironic; employees are planning to strike against a union because they are being treated unfairly.  WEA executives already face similar stresses from public school employees.  The WEA diverts about $35 million in public funds from school budgets every year and funnels it to private union bank accounts, based on mandatory monthly withdrawals from teacher paychecks.  WEA executives take about $1,000 from each teacher every year.  Led by union president Kim Mead, WEA executives are known to bully teachers who object, and Mead makes it clear that any school teacher who does not pay will be fired.

Now that WEA executives are having a strike called against them, instead of them imposing one on someone else, it may make them a little more understanding about the harsh measures they take against teachers in collecting money. It may also make them less insensitive about the strikes they call against schools that hurt Washington parents and their children.

Here’s to hoping all the grown-ups in public education reduce conflict in the system and learn to work together...so that every child learns.