Why Teachers' Union Supports AT&T/T-Mobile Deal, and Why It Matters

A recent Politico story mentioning the National Education Association's support of AT&T's multibillion-dollar buyout of T-Mobile exposed some more dirty and not-so-little secrets about the country's largest teachers' union.

Now Mike Antonucci of the Education Intelligence Agency connects more dots.

The Politico story noted that the NEA Foundation received $75,000 from AT&T last year, suggesting the donation may have influenced NEA boss Dennis Van Roekel.

Antonucci adds: "While it is never a good idea for an organization to spit in the eye of someone who gives it money, the idea that NEA would sell out for $75,000 is a bit silly. The union took in $367 million last year. It spent $35,000 on coffee. Why would it risk its reputation for such a small sum?

"The answer is: It wouldn't."

Antonucci goes on to detail that AT&T has 35 union contracts with 58 percent of its employees represented by a union.

"T-Mobile is -- surprise! -- mostly nonunion. The prospect of bringing tens of thousands of private-sector workers under the union banner is reason enough for NEA support," Antonucci reported from his Sacramento, Calif., office.

But Antonucci says there is yet another reason.

"As you might have noticed, NEA and its affiliates [which include the Florida Education Association] are having some political difficulties these days. Securing a powerful corporate ally would be highly advantageous in the lobbying and campaign battles to come -- even if just to deny support to the other side.

"The quid pro quo is not NEA issuing a statement in exchange for $75,000 -- it is AT&T standing in NEA's corner on teacher collective bargaining, school funding and other issues on the union agenda in exchange for NEA's merger support."