From the Sunday Star Tribune, a description of the salary and benefits of the executives from Education Minnesota, the teacher's trade union in Minnesota:

[President Judy] Schaubach is the big cigar, with annual pay of $128,648, 7 percent more than the governor. Executive Director Larry Wicks makes nearly the same, and the next three top officers average $114,232. The union also pays Cadillac benefits: dental coverage and 100 percent health care coverage, a matching 401(k) plan and separate pension. And under a company car program that Wicks describes as money-saving, more than 50 officers, managers and high-mileage staff members drive a union-purchased sedan. The top officers ride in Buick LeSabres. Staff members who drive more than 10,000 miles a year for work get a Ford Taurus. The in-between car is a Chevy Impala.

Given the the constant cry from the education bureaucracy that we're not doing enough for the children (even despite massive increases in funding over the last 10 years), doesn't all that seem a tad excessive? Especially considering that all union administration and activities are funded via teacher's salaries--which are 100% a public expenditure via tax dollars--doesn't this actually seem borderline criminal--at least by the standards that are being applied to private corporations right now?

The text of the article in the Strib was reasonably balanced, but for a subtle example of media bias, check out the graphics used to illustrate the two lobbying groups profiled. First Education Minnesota. Now the Freedom Club (a private organization of business and community leaders ). Which group do you feel is better for the average Minnesotan--the racially and gender diverse multitude marching forward (toward a brighter tomorrow, no doubt), or the three white businessmen in suits, huddled together in a congratulatory embrace, literally dwarfing some poor, little family (with a dominant mother figure)? My only surprise is that they didn't somehow work in cartoons of obese cats wearing tuxedos and lighting their cigars with twenty dollar bills.

Labels: Education

Posted by Saint Paul--Link