Teachers: Explore alternatives to expensive union dues!

In a nutshell, whether or not you choose teacher union membership is your decision and will not impact the benefits your employer provides.

 

 

You no longer have to be a member or pay fees to the teachers union, so it is important to know your other options when it comes to important benefits like liability insurance, job protection, and other forms of support you need to do your job! The teachers union is not your only option AND alternative education associations can often provide the same, if not better coverage, at a lower price.  

 

Step 3. Decide which membership best fits your needs

Thanks to the Supreme Court decision that restored freedom of choice to all teachers, we are now free to decide whether we want to be part of the union, part of another education association, or opt out of any membership together.

What is important is that you choose the option that works best for you! There are two types of associations:

• Teacher union: You may already be familiar with teacher unions. Typically, there is a local teacher union which is involved with the day-to-day teacher concerns. They provide a host of benefits to teachers including representation if you have an issue with your school or with a student, liability insurance, professional development, and discounts.

  The local union reports to the regional or state-level union which then reports to one of the national teaching unions. The regional and national unions are often involved with policy beyond education and frequently support political campaigns. You will pay dues to the local union, most of which will be sent to the state and national unions.

  Teacher unions currently have exclusive collective bargaining rights, which is the power to negotiate salary and several other factors. Strikes can take place as part of those negotiations and members are expected to take part even if they don’t agree on the issue.

  Union membership is annual and if you decide to leave, the union may try to limit your opt out period to a few weeks during the year, typically around your membership anniversary or a designated time frame.

• Nonunion teaching association: These organizations include national, regional, and discipline-specific options and and can offer a host of benefits to their members including legal representation if you have an issue with your school or with a student, liability insurance, professional development, and discounts.

  While these organizations advocate on behalf of their members, they do not have collective bargaining rights. They are also non-partisan and do not take political stances or support political campaigns. Typically, the focus of these associations is on fostering member development and success. Because they are not supporting outside issues, dues are often much lower than teacher unions.

  Here are a few of the nonunion teaching associations available to teachers in the United States:

  • Association of American Educators
  • Christian Educators Association International
  • Arkansas State Teachers Association
  • Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana
  • Kansas Association of American Educators
  • Professional Association of Colorado Educators
  • Northwest Professional Educators

   

  Check out this chart for an overview of the benefits each teacher association type offers:

  

Step 4. Make the decision that's best for you

If you're considering alternatives, it may seem like you're the only one of your colleagues contemplating leaving the teachers union. You should know that you are not alone! Many educators have decided for many reasons that membership with a non-union association is a better fit.

Click here to get started!