$100 ATM cards for New Mexico teachers face union resistance

[TexasTowelie]

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico school districts are giving teachers state-issued $100 debit cards to help buy classroom supplies, but one union is urging teachers to be cautious in accepting the offer over concerns the fine print may put teachers' licenses at risk.

Albuquerque Teachers Federation President Ellen Bernstein said the cards being distributed this week are “an insult” to educators, since they come as districts face teacher shortages.

The union isn’t taking an official stance on the cards, but union leaders are encouraging teachers to send Gov. Susana Martinez a signed postcard declaring “$100 will not buy my silence” while educators protest the state’s new teacher evaluation system.

“Receiving this VISA card is not a ‘privilege’ as stated in the New Mexico Teacher’s Classroom Supply Agreement, rather, it is an insult to all educators,” the postcard reads.

Read more: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/atm-cards-for-new-mexico-teachers-face-union-resistance/article_e243691c-c9d5-5269-9082-f7c1d0be134f.html

[alc]

1. this is where unions need PR help

Maybe it's the reporting, or maybe it's the message, or maybe it's me. But this article doesn't come across well and that seems to be the case so often when there are reports on unions. It sounds like there are some details missing from the article that a PR firm may have been able to get included.

Unions should be trying to gain support from non-union households. I'm sure there are ways they could use this to do that. Maybe the union could offer an alternative no-strings-attached $100 card for teachers who are worried about loosing their license. Lots of organizations donate money for supplies so have the union organize a way to put the donations into ATM cards and not have to cover the full cost of the cards. Or a help line or receipt review for teachers who are worried they may purchase the wrong items and lose their license.

I'm sure there are much better ideas than those. Get the article to be about how state funding is inadequate and the union is helping cover teacher's costs. In my state I almost never see a positive article about unions or even hear a teacher in a union say positive things about them.

[DhhD]

2. Is everybody aware that a teacher can take up to $200.00 a year off of their federal income

taxes for classroom teacher expenses like bulletin board cover (just keep the receipts)? And the items bought are well needed. Another way is that others could donate five cents, to school collecting jars, here and there. A pencil is $0.25. Donating a box of tissues is very easy to drop off at a school collection box outside the doors.