Intel on the Rick Berman Campaign-- from Rick Berman Himself.

This article is a bit old, but it gives a little more info on what he's trying to do.

Rick Berman's folks have been looking at my site...

Yeah, Bermanco, we know what you're gonna do.

Bring it-- we'll get ya.

Forces of evil to attack teachers' unions on Tuesday.

Tuesday marks the beginning of Rick Berman's Center For Union Facts' $1 million dollar ad assault on teachers. Paid ads on FOX (go figure) and CNN start on Tuesday. AFT seems to be doing a good job by getting the word out, and telling us what's going on; yet I don't pay dues to AFT; I pay dues to NEA. I haven't gotten anything from them. What's up, Reg?

Here's the complete text below:

Heads up: A national campaign against teachers unions will kick off next week.

Next Tuesday (March 11), the Center for Union Facts (CUF) will launch what the organization describes as "an unprecedented, $1 million advertising assault on teachers unions."

CUF is airing commercials on CNN and Fox News, and buying full-page ads in the New York Times and USA Today. The attack ads will promote its campaign Web site, www.TeachersUnionExposed.com. We suspect these ads, which focus on union actions in 20 school districts across the country, also will include distortions about tenure, claims that unions oppose worthwhile school reforms, and outright lies about what we do. The charges will be vicious and outrageous, and the ads may result in news coverage, particularly from anti-union media outlets.

We are currently developing our own attack plan and will have additional information to you shortly. However, each of you is capable of answering these charges by asserting the real facts and talking about your union's successes. In doing so, it may help to know a little about CUF, which has been monitored by Sourcewatch (www.sourcewatch.org): "The Center for Union Facts is a secretive front group for individuals and industries opposed to union activities. It is part of lobbyist Rick Berman's family of front groups including the Employment Policies Institute."

Berman has lobbied on behalf of pesticide, alcohol and tobacco companies, and against the Americans with Disabilities Act, checkpoints to catch drunk drivers, minimum wage increases, and card-check. A 2006 USA Today article reported that his lobbying firm brings in $10 million per year for his work on ultra-conservative, anti-union clients. Berman has even waged a campaign against Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

American Rights at Work (www.americanrightsatwork.org/the-anti-union-network/center-for-union-facts) has additional information about Berman and CUF. We hope this helps you respond. If you need further assistance, please contact John See in the AFT's public affairs department,

Political related- post.

Hillary; the AFT endorsed her in early October; I'm thinking she's not going to make it. Go Obama!

(Yes, Dr. Homeslice has officially endorsed Obama!)

Hello out there in bloggerland...

So I've been gone a while....

Things have been busy on my end; can't say why-- if I did, I'd have to kill all of you.

Seriously, a friend of mine (who knows of my secret blogger identity) told me the other night, "Take it down, you haven't done anything with Homeslice in a while, you should just get rid of it,"...

NEVER!

Heh.

Seriously, folks-- let's talk about union officers getting cozy with management.

Specifically, I'm referring to Louise Sundin, former President of Minneapolis Something of Teachers or Education Association. I can't remember, and I really am too lazy to look. She was ousted after being criticized by her members as too close to management; the same thing happened in Ohio as well, with I think Mansfield or some little EA/ FT unit.

Quite frankly, the call for Bob Chase's "new unionism" is lost on the ears of the membership. They would advocate the same adversarial relationship that is typical of management and union; combative and uncompromising. The fact of the matter is that compromises have to be made; relationships have to be forged with administration, yet the rank and file can't see the union officers as getting "too close" with the administration, lest it doom them to lose the reelection. For real change to happen, rank and file has to abandon the illusion of a mostly adversarial management/ union relationship and realize that compromises have to be made, but not at the expense of members. Just 'cause we're coming to a consensus doesn't mean that your interests are falling by the wayside.

Look at UTLA, for crying out loud; 20 percent of the union members voted, keeping AJ Duffy in with just over 10% of the vote. Mike Antonucci had a field day-- and well he should; the idea that 20% of a union determines the leadership is abhorrent. UTLA needs to make sure its members are organized and informed, and, quite simply VOTE!

When I was in charge of a building, I made sure EVERYONE voted. I had a meeting. Those that didn't make it to the meeting, I tracked down. You don't put ballots in mailboxes; that's just asking for trouble, folks. And all but one member voted. Buh!