How much can you learn from a 404 “File not found” error? Plenty, when it replaces content critical of the Ohio Education Association (OEA) – written by OEA employees.
When I stumbled across the official blog of a union representing more than 100 OEA staff, I could hardly believe how its authors reamed – over the course of 2+ years – the selfish, dishonest, hypocritical leadership of We Are Ohio’s biggest in-state donor.
In late August I began sharing quotes and context with readers of the Ohio sites I write for in my free time. By early September, years of union employees’ entries had vanished down the memory hole. Like this gem from 08/29/2009, which used to be at the web address above:
OEA apparently does not care that it is rife with hypocrisy, adamant in taking positions it tells its local affiliates to fight at all costs, and shortsighted.
The truth of the matter is that OEA failed to bargain in good faith with PSU. In fact, they wasted five bargaining sessions before even responding with a written counter-proposal. Does that sound like collaborative leadership?
Like the first quote, this OEA staffer insight was publicly visible until I began asking why Ohio voters should rely on union bosses who can’t be trusted by their own employees. Now…
Imagine, if you would, being paid heaps of public dollars to stand between elected officials and the voters who fund their operations. You don’t actually do any of the things taxpayers need, but you have considerable power over how much those services cost – and how they are (or aren’t) delivered.
The obvious brokenness of current Ohio law is why the unions created “We Are Ohio” in a desperate effort to market themselves as reg’lar folk. Senate Bill 5 threatens their cozy arrangement, and they plan to block reform using the usual tired lines about “solidarity” and “speaking for working people.”
What do you think – should Ohio voters buy what We Are Ohio is selling?
Follow me on Twitter: @jasonahart
Cross-posted at that hero.
