Marine’s Final Battle Against an Unlikely Foe: The Massachusetts Teacher Union

James Hall / June 23, 2010

Major Stephen L. Godin thought he had retired from battle after logging over 2,000 hours during five overseas deployments as an F-4 Phantom pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps.  However, thanks to forced unionism in Massachusetts, the fight continued for this honorable veteran.

Major Godin has taught Naval Junior ROTC at North High School in Worcester, Massachusetts, for 15 years without paying any kind of union fees.  He chose not to join a union because the military pays half of his salary, as well as his medical and dental insurance.  He simply had no use or desire to have any part in a union.  However, he was given an ultimatum from school officials last month to start paying union fees or lose his job.

The letter included a deadline for his termination if he refused to join the union or begin paying a $500 union fee.  A state law in Massachusetts requires all public employees, including teachers, to join unions as a condition of employment or to pay an agency fee. State employees are charged this agency fee to cover the costs of collective bargaining for the unions, even if they are not union members themselves. (more…)