Are Teachers Unions More Focused On Jobs Than On Education?

Yes, but that's an odd question.

Teachers unions like the NEA and AFT aren't supposed to be focused on education. They're supposed to look out for the best interests of teachers--in other words, they're supposed to focus on the pay, benefits, and working conditions of teachers. They're not supposed to worry about education or students at all--legislatures, parents, and school boards are supposed to worry about those topics.

This article seems to express concern that teachers unions focus on teacher jobs:

But two-thirds of U.S. voters (66%) say the teachers’ unions – the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers – are more interested in protecting their members’ jobs than in the quality of education.

Only 23% of voters say educational quality comes first for the unions, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided.

I'm more concerned that the NEA is a far-left-wing political organization and not really a teachers union. I'm not concerned at all that it isn't focused so much on education.