A teachers' union offers little help

David Collins' column on the teachers' union raises many valid points. ("What is the teachers' union hiding?" March 17.) In my 25 years of public education and as a Connecticut Education Association paying member, I needed its help for the first time to get my final pay from a district after I left my position there. It took 11 months to get several thousand dollars of my pay given to me, as well as to have several errors fixed with the retirement board.

The runaround I received from my own union and lack of getting questions answered was frustrating. I was told by the union to be patient, to not rock the boat and to seek out whatever other organization could help me. When I contacted the state Labor Board, I was told that because there was a union, the union would need to file a grievance before the Labor Board could be involved. I pushed the union to file a grievance, which it did not do.

Classified information

As I previously suspected a reluctance by the district's union to ever file a grievance, I asked the main CEA office how many grievances had been filed in that district in the last three years. I did not ask for details, just the number. I was told I was not privy to that information, and it was not covered under the Freedom of Information Act. My response was that after paying dues for 25 years, I find it hard to believe I could not be given that information. Why not?

To add more insult, I was spoken to in a rude manner by a Uniserv representative, who also became quite testy with me. I guess they don't like being held accountable and expected to answer questions.

I filed a formal complaint for lack of representation with the main CEA office. I was told they found no fault with the union's actions. Eleven months later, I received my final pay.

After 25 years in education and after paying the union about $125,000 in union dues, I expected better treatment from it than I received.

CEA union members need to start questioning what they are paying for and demand more union disclosure.

Editor's note: The writer resides in Preston.