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Surprise Surprise, unions are at it again, this time in Maryland’s Anne Arundel County, pushing a work-to-rule effort that limits teachers to doing just the bare minimum of their contract, which already is narrow in scope and not in the best interest of students.  The Capital Gazette has the scoop:

• The Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County and the school board approved a contract for the next year giving teachers a 2 percent cost-of-living raise, but cutting a $2,000 stipend for teachers who work at challenge schools — those with a high percentage of students who get free or reduced-price lunches.
• Teachers upset over the elimination of that stipend, along with the lack of any raise based on experience, organized work-to-rule protests in which they worked only the hours required in their contracts. Some have stopped writing college recommendations and supervising clubs.
• Students have been emailing County Execs to push for “fair salaries for teachers”
• County Exec. Steve Schuh has pushed back on students, challenging them to think for themselves, telling Capital Gazette “he believes students are being used by union leaders to tout personal agendas.”

This is why CER pushed for a stronger charter school law for Maryland families and students earlier this year. A charter school law that frees schools from collective bargaining allows school leaders and teachers to work together under their own terms according to what’s best for their students’ needs.

In the meantime, check out this toolkit the union has been circulating to drive its agenda.