CITIZENS
for
Limited Taxation & Government
18 Tremont Street #608 Boston, Massachusetts
02108 (617) 248-0022
E-Mail: cltg@cltg.org Web-page: http://cltg.org
NEWS
RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 7, 1998
For further
information contact:
Barbara Anderson - (781) 639-0096
Chip Ford - (978) 538-3900
Teachers Union
Bullies, Harasses Elderly, Others
An 83-year old Springfield woman fears to
leave next week on a planned visit to see her son because she's told she might be
subpoenaed by the Massachusetts Teachers
Association to appear in Suffolk Superior
Court, and calls her state representative for help.
A retired couple in Holyoke receive a call
from "Priscilla Lyons, a Cambridge attorney" who evades identification and
implies she is a representative of Citizens for Limited Taxation & Government.
An appointment is made for her to get a signature sample from them but nobody shows up --
until a day later. Upon demand for identification, the tardy and mysterious agent,
"George Shay," admits that he's an official of the greater-Springfield teachers
union.
When the call comes to one of their four
sons, it's implied that the call is being made on behalf of a Justice of Superior Court,
who is verifying signatures. A mysterious agent travels to one Holyoke son's place
of employment for a hand-writing sample -- in Connecticut.
Phony Subpoenas are received by signers,
faintly watermarked "Sample" and accompanied by a letter requesting hand-writing
samples or else.
A voter is told his signature is forged,
because the teachers union has misread it.
"Imperative" demands are made for
visits by mysterious agents who allege they've previously sent letters, but never did.
A husband, wife, and mother receive letters
threatening subpoenas unless they comply and produce signature samples -- because they all
live at the same address and thus are obvious forgers.
Terrence is forced to provide his signature
or be subpoenaed because the teachers union thinks it looks like "Teresa,"
though their letter is addressed to Terrence.
Agent "Ann" arrives at the home of
a West Roxbury petition signer to obtain a signature sample. By the time she leaves she
has become "very hostile."
Our phones at CLT&G have been ringing
constantly over the past few days with these and many similar reports. All across
the state voters are getting harassing calls, letters, and visits from agents of the
Massachusetts Teachers Association.
A desperate teachers union has stooped to new
depths, wallowing in unprecedented harassment and intimidation of citizens, whose only
offense was signing the A Promise to Keep: 5% petition to roll back the income tax rate.
The union deserves to lose and it will.
- 30 - |