As a teacher in San Jose Unified School District for 40 years, I was working when collective bargaining became a reality in 1977. Throughout all those years, if I wanted my money to go toward political action, I contributed to their PAC. It was not automatic; it was a conscious choice, requiring a signature. It was separate from my dues.
Dan Walters’ column (Opinion, Jan. 25) misleads readers. I assume some of the dues I paid went toward lobbying efforts, but outright donations to candidates can only come from the PAC. Unions represent teachers at the school and district level, they work on a level playing field with powerful forces when contracts need to be negotiated, and they advocate for children, making sure working/learning conditions are optimum. No organization is perfect, but consider a country without unions.
Denise Delong
Retired teacher
San Jose
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