Spending at OEA: One person's outrage

June 13, 2006

Has anyone read their latest OEA Journal? No wonder there was no money to support my legal expenses! Oh they support you for small things like losing your coaching job, but if it costs big money the OEA leaves you. I have talked to several people this has happened to.

Let's take a look at where some of our OEA money is going. Approximately 1/2 of the total revenue is spent on salaries, wages, pension plan, payroll taxes and hospitalization. This is definitely top heavy. A small part of any organization who provides a service should be spent on administration and employees. The above amount does not include the training, association promotion, as well as other expenses. What kind of a grant is OEA spending $1,778,095.00 on? Where is the money for the services for the members?

It is time we move to a cheaper location and cut all the perks for people at the OEA. Delegate Expense was $217,263. We are running the OEA like a corporation out of control. Who is the organization for anyway? Must be the staff, like STRS!

Oh incidentally, the OEA cut $28,000 in car leases. Yes, we were paying for their cars.

Travel last year was $2,126,192.00. Outrageous! Nothing but the best for our OEA staff! Couldn't his be done over the telephone or Internet? Don't they know they can save money using the Internet for calls? After all we're spending $810,009.00 on telephone and the Internet. I wonder how many websites are traveled to not OEA related?

It would seem to me ethics charges might be in order!

Check out the May/June issue of OEA magazine page 27. (It is not numbered)

Judi