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WHAT IS THE WEA HIDING?
 • In February 2003, WEA joined other state teachers' unions in suing the U.S. Department of Labor to prevent suggested rule changes that would require labor organizations to disclose spending. • In 1998, the WEA refused to disclose documents detailing its ambitious political plan in litigation until the court granted a protective order sealing the documents from union members and the public. • In 1999, WEA officials were ordered to pay a $15,000 fine for failure to disclose documents related to the union's political plan. • When non-member teachers (who are required to pay fees to the WEA) challenged the union's spending in 2002, officials refused to disclose documentation of that spending even though an arbitrator found that more than $100,000 in expenditures were improperly charged to non-members. • Teachers who went through the WEA's 2002 annual arbitration process were not permitted the assistance of accountants or attorneys in reviewing union financial statements unless the professionals agreed to sign a gag order. • In 2001, the WEA sued the Public Disclosure Commission to prevent disclosure of forms showing teacher authorization for automatic political action committee deductions. • In annual arbitration proceedings, WEA routinely denies requests from non-member teachers for names of other non-member teachers. • WEA has on numerous occasions denied teacher requests for documentation of financial expenditures made with non-member fees. • In 2001, WEA argued in court it has "no fiduciary duty" to teachers who pay dues and fees. • WEA has sued or threatened to sue individual teachers who speak out in opposition to compulsory dues and fees. • WEA has repeatedly attacked organizations working to implement meaningful disclosure requirements. More Information: WEA ignored
law, says AG's office
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1 Part Honesty; 2 Parts Arrogance At a March 23, 2005, House Appropriations hearing on a bill to gut the voter-approved I-601 spending limit, Rep. Jim McIntire (D) asked a supporter of I-601’s two-third supermajority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes the following question: "Can you name a time when we [legislators] have actually not just set it [supermajority requirement] aside by majority vote? I mean, this is in many respects a procedural motion that has no bearing. It’s a statutory constraint that cannot constrain any legislature that chooses as a majority to set it aside . . . have we ever used a supermajority [to raise taxes]?" - Rep. Jim McIntire (D - 46) Despite the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's constitution is clear: "All political power is inherent in the people..." |
