Only in your bubble world Nathan is the 4J union not powerful.  Oregon has some of the strongest teacher's unions in the nation. That's not my opinion but a fact. I'm sure it could never be powerful enough for you and many others who live off the sweat of others who have to work a full day/year and save for their own retirement. Go talk to a 4J principal about a demonstrably ineffective teacher and he/she will tell you that they can't do anything about it. They don't even bother trying. That isn't a powerful union? They chip away at the benefits because there is no money to pay for them. I hate to get all "economics" on you, and I'm sure that one floated far over your head. They have to honor the ridiculous benefit packages they signed decades ago...and you are crying because you aren't getting Tier 1 PERS like your dad did. When the economy was down and hundreds of thousands of people were losing their jobs every month what did the teachers union agree to? Furlough days that's what.