I was employed in a public school system as a paraprofessional and was prompted by other members to join the Virginia Educator's Association (VEA). Their members at my workplace told me that the VEA could help with several employment issues that were prevelant at the school where I was employed and that I should join in order to protect myself and my employment. One of the specific benefits offered was legal support. When I joined, I made a very speficit inquiry about this benefit and was assured that I would likely qualify to use it when and if the time came.
When I was given 2 unfounded write ups and a performance improvement plan then wrongfully terminated for making a mandated report of abuse of a disabled student, I requested legal services for obvious reasons.
After several months of no communication from my assigned case worker (UniServ) I requested someone else. I was not able to effectively get the union to help me do anything. Finally I was referred to legal services and told that if one of their approved attorneys found my case meritorious, they would have no problem paying my legal fees.
First problem I ran into was that their list of attorneys for my area and within a 3 hour radius was very limited. None of them practiced employment law, most practiced civil law, traffic law and family law. When I brought it to their attention that I needed an employment attorney who had experience relevant to my case, they approved an attorney I suggested in my area. Said attorney reviewed my case and determined that I had a very good case. Legal services were priced at a one time cost of $5000 if the VEA agreed to support this.
They declined to support it, no reason given. I was left holding the bag, no attorney, no job no way to pay for legal fees. The position I held has since been vacated multiple times since the beginning of the school year and this fact doesn't send up a red flag to the VEA either. They also advertise that they want to try to make public education better and improve upon it. This isn't happening when working conditions are so deplorable that they can't keep employees.
As a dues paying member, I was given no explaination as to why I was not granted the benefits I paid for, I was dismissed by a very rude VEA attorney (Dena Rosenkrantz) who didn't seem to be able to write in complete sentences or communicate effectively via e-mail or otherwise and who constantly talked down to me after finding out that I was not a teacher but rather a paraprofessional.
This union does not live up to its mission or promises and fails on all levels to provide its paying members with any useful services at all. Beware of this one--don't waste the money on it. They will pocket your dues and they WON'T be there to help you or support you when you're in need!
Virginia Education Association Reviews
I was employed in a public school system as a paraprofessional and was prompted by other members to join the Virginia Educator's Association (VEA). Their members at my workplace told me that the VEA could help with several employment issues that were prevelant at the school where I was employed and that I should join in order to protect myself and my employment. One of the specific benefits offered was legal support. When I joined, I made a very speficit inquiry about this benefit and was assured that I would likely qualify to use it when and if the time came.
When I was given 2 unfounded write ups and a performance improvement plan then wrongfully terminated for making a mandated report of abuse of a disabled student, I requested legal services for obvious reasons.
After several months of no communication from my assigned case worker (UniServ) I requested someone else. I was not able to effectively get the union to help me do anything. Finally I was referred to legal services and told that if one of their approved attorneys found my case meritorious, they would have no problem paying my legal fees.
First problem I ran into was that their list of attorneys for my area and within a 3 hour radius was very limited. None of them practiced employment law, most practiced civil law, traffic law and family law. When I brought it to their attention that I needed an employment attorney who had experience relevant to my case, they approved an attorney I suggested in my area. Said attorney reviewed my case and determined that I had a very good case. Legal services were priced at a one time cost of $5000 if the VEA agreed to support this.
They declined to support it, no reason given. I was left holding the bag, no attorney, no job no way to pay for legal fees. The position I held has since been vacated multiple times since the beginning of the school year and this fact doesn't send up a red flag to the VEA either. They also advertise that they want to try to make public education better and improve upon it. This isn't happening when working conditions are so deplorable that they can't keep employees.
As a dues paying member, I was given no explaination as to why I was not granted the benefits I paid for, I was dismissed by a very rude VEA attorney (Dena Rosenkrantz) who didn't seem to be able to write in complete sentences or communicate effectively via e-mail or otherwise and who constantly talked down to me after finding out that I was not a teacher but rather a paraprofessional.
This union does not live up to its mission or promises and fails on all levels to provide its paying members with any useful services at all. Beware of this one--don't waste the money on it. They will pocket your dues and they WON'T be there to help you or support you when you're in need!