Photo by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.
In a recent video message, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon reminded public school teachers of an important legal right. Under the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME, public employees—including teachers—cannot be required to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment, no matter what state they live in. This ruling was a major victory for American workers! McMahon emphasized that teachers should never feel obligated to fund unions that support political causes they disagree with.
The is a timely reminder for educators as teachers’ unions are now operating essentially as political machines. Organizations like the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers don’t prioritize education anymore — just politics. According to a recent Fox News opinion piece, less than 10 percent of the NEA’s $400+ million annual budget actually goes toward representing teachers in the workplace. Meanwhile, teachers are paying significant dues. In Chicago, for example, educators pay about $1,400 each year, yet reports indicate that less than 20 percent of union spending directly supports members.
Union leaders have also been in hot water for their involvement in anti-immigration enforcement activism. Marcia Howard, president of the Minneapolis chapter of the AFT, bragged about her participation in private Signal chats coordinating anti-ICE activism alongside elected officials. Despite these revelations, many teachers remain in unions because they believe the unions are necessary for better pay. Hopefully, robust research can changing that assumption. Many researchers in recent years have found that teachers in non-collective bargaining districts actually earn more than unionized teachers. Teachers who want to leave unions can do so, and they may just find better pay if they do.
The impact of the 2018 Janus decision is already visible. The California Teachers Association is experiencing membership challenges. Alternative professional associations are also emerging, offering teachers representation without partisan political agendas. These types of organizations not only appear viable, but also fall in line with the Trump Administration’s vision of reinstating local control of public education. It’s time to rescue more teachers! Perhaps Secretary McMahon’s future videos might show exactly how union members can successfully cancel their membership and find organizations that put academics first, not politics.
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