Will voters wake up to union chicanery?

In his Feb. 1 letter to the editor, Naperville Unit District 203 board member Dave Weeks highlighted the very real conflict of interest that exists when union-endorsed (and financed) school board members vote on multi-million dollar union contracts.

There is very good reason for the teachers’ union to proactively campaign for candidates sympathetic to their ideology. For example, in 2005 the union-endorsed majority board approved a 5.2 percent per year contract and voted to maintain the practice of pension spiking (increasing salaries to inflate retirement income). When was the last time anyone in the private sector received a 5.2 percent raise?

Mr. Weeks’ observation is spot on. If Naperville taxpayers don’t recognize the clear appearance of impropriety with this cozy relationship, then you have no right to be outraged by your next property tax bill (75 percent of which goes to the school district).

Perhaps the birth of the tea party, the epic November elections, and the actions in Wisconsin have collectively signaled the awakening of the abused taxpayer. The true test in Naperville will come when taxpayers eventually wake up to what this union and school board chicanery has cost them (and will continue to cost them). Perhaps only then will voter turnout to elect school board members surpass a pathetic 25 percent.

Good luck to you, Mr. Weeks.

Mike Davitt

Naperville