Bucking very well paid union bosses

When you’re a member of a union, your monthly dues are taken directly from your paycheck. To put the numbers in perspective, for example, in 2009 the United Federation of Teachers, the trade union for teachers in New York, took $47.27 bi-monthly from each paycheck. As part of the working class, you live day to day and stretch every dollar — ever wonder how your union money is spent?

In this economic downturn, union officials are making out like kings. Many have salaries well into six figures. According to a New York Post report, Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, pulls in $250,000 a year, in addition to an expense account and benefits package. His tremendous package is paid for entirely by union dues.

The National Education Association has more than 400 union officers making over $100,000 a year. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Teamsters each have about 200.

It’s laughable to think that union bosses believe they’re representing workers’ best interests. Instead these dues are being misspent on gluttonous salaries, political contributions and headquarters that could be mistaken for palaces.

According to a report by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, “Most of the top labor organizations in the country spend more on politics and administration than they do on representation. The NEA’s D.C. headquarters is worth over $110 million and the AFL-CIO’s building is valued at over $90 million. Union boss salaries and lavish D.C. headquarters demonstrate a stark contrast between their lifestyles and the standard of their members.”

It’s truly a shame. Surely this is money that could be better spent. The greed of union bosses and the welfare of their particular interest groups are placed ahead of the forgotten working class.

The unions have become equal-opportunity terrorizers, able to buy both Republicans and Democrats in return for the legislation or policy that is bankrupting our states. This year was supposed to be the year of government reform. Yet the NEA spent $60 million and, in five states, $100 per teacher.