When every single Republican is anti-union, why are so many DUers anti-union too?

[HockeyMom]

159. SEIU - Florida Special Education Paraprofessional - School tried to deny OT pay

We were Non-Exempt Hourly employees. The school district in order to save money fired all the part time morning Transportation Aides. We were told we would be required to come in an hour earlier to get the kids off the buses in place of those aides. We would receive COMP time for it. What? For five hours every week for the entire school year? Comp time?????

After 40 hours of work per week, we were entitled to OVERTIME, not Comp time. I told the Principal of the school that under the Fair Standards Labor Act we hourly Paras were entitled to Overtime Pay for "bus duties". Besides which, none of this was in our contracts, especially for the Special Needs Paras. The Principal was shocked when I said all of this. I called the Union who said absolutely we would have to paid OT if we worked over 40 hours a week. The Union asked me then if I would spread the word to others about the legalities of this, and try to get more Union membership. The SEIU membership after this incidence went from 60% to 85%. Yes, the school hired back the part time workers instead. They were going to have to pay somebody.

I made just under $15/hour. It was required that we have either an Associates Degree or pass a State Paraprofessional Test. My wages were slightly higher working with the special needs kids and in a Title 1 school which is partially Federally subsidized. Cushy job? Glorified Babysitter? We worked with kids who were LD, ADD, Autistic, Severity, and also ED. The latter included Middle School kids, some of whom had Criminal Records. One boy I worked with tried to stab his Grandma with a kitchen knife when he was 10 years old. Cushy job???? Glorified Babysitter? Make minimum wage? Why? There are no PROFITS being made from this work? No skills required? Money and all those benefits? Excuse me, but our "beloved" Governor Rick Scott only lasted a FEW HOURS in one of these classrooms before he left!!!!!! Plus he still froze the Education Budget, BEFORE he ran for his re-election.

Oh, yeah, the public doesn't have much respect for the teachers, and Paras are the bottom of the barrel.