Saturday, January 31, 2015

Bethlehem teacher doesn't want to pay fee to union that violates beliefs

1/31/2015
Sara K. Satullo


Liberty High School teacher Richard Coppock is perplexed that the Bethlehem Education Association can make him pay $500 for opting out of a union that he says violates his political, religious and moral beliefs.

Coppock has been teaching in the Bethlehem Area School District for 24 years and he left the district union in 2004. He was disillusioned by the organizations that the National Education Association was funneling money to, he said.

The Bethlehem Education Association is a local union of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, which is an affiliate of the National Education Association.

Wednesday night the Bethlehem Area School Board approved a new three-year teachers contract that includes a fair share provision. Before the meeting, Coppock said this means any non-association members will have to pay $500 a year.

"They say it is unfair that teachers not in the union have the benefits of the teachers in the union because we don't financially contribute," Coppock, who belongs to the Keystone Teacher Association, a union he says better aligns with his values.

Forcing him to pay for something that goes against his religious beliefs, to Coppock, "seems to me to be anything but fair," he said.

District solicitor Don Spry noted there is a provision that allows anyone with a religious objection to, instead of paying the union, donate the money to a charity.

"I respect his feelings and his position," Jolene Vitalos, teachers union president, said of Coppock.

Vitalos had already informed him of his option to donate the money to charity.

Coppock has been told he doesn't have a right to the raises and benefits the association has negotiated. His rebuttal? Let him go sit down with Superintendent Joseph Roy and negotiate his own salary.

"I have nothing at all against unions," Coppock said. "It should be an absolute personal decision. If you want to be in the union then go ahead and be in the union."

Coppock addressed school board members Wednesday night, asking them to take the fair share provision out of the contract.

Before the meeting, he said he didn't expect his comments to sway the board but felt someone needed to speak up about the situation. Coppock feels hamstrung by the new contract.

"I guess I have no say and if I want to continue teaching in this district I have to have (the money) taken out," Coppock said.

The Bethlehem Education Association has about 1,024 members. About 50 district teachers don't belong to the union.

"We are a very strong unionized work force," Vitalos said.

The association assured non-members the $500 fee would only go towards collective bargaining, Coppock said. Vitalos reiterated that and noted its illegal for dues to go towards political action.

"How do I know that?" Coppock queried.

He would be paying $1,500 over thee years but not allowed to attend union meetings.

"I'm supposed to believe all this money is needed for collective bargaining on my behalf," Coppock said.

He notes that 1,000 teachers paying $500 each year for three years would generate $1.5 million.

He notes on several occasions the National Education Association has given money for educational purposes to Planned Parenthood. As a Roman Catholic, he's not comfortable with that, Coppock said.

"They can give it to any group they want," he said. "Since they are a huge union, chances are they will be giving it to groups that are left-wing. I don't agree with that."


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