St. Louis Teachers Union Opt Out Window: What Teachers need to know
Are you interested in leaving AFT St. Louis and stopping dues from being deducted from your paycheck?
Here’s what you need to know about canceling your St. Louis Teachers Union membership:
- Union membership is no longer mandatory for teachers.
- Leaving AFT St. Louis will not affect your teaching contract or your tenure.
- Negotiated benefits such as salary and health insurance are not dependent on union membership.
- You are not alone. Thousands of teachers have chosen to leave their teachers union. Hear educators share their stories.
- Other non-union teacher associations can provide liability insurance, legal representation, and other benefits, often at a fraction of the cost.
If you want to leave AFT St. Louis, timing matters. The union has said teachers have until June 30 to decide whether or not they want to stay in the union. If you decide to cancel your membership after that date it could be a lot more challenging to exercise your rights before next year.
How to Cancel AFT St. Louis Union Membership
If you've decided to cancel your St. Louis Teachers Union membership, we can help guide you through the process.
- Fill out the form on the right to personalize the opt out letter with your information.
- Download or email yourself a copy of the letter and print.
- Send a signed written notice via U.S. mail to AFT St. Louis, Local 420 COPE Committee (2710 Hampton Ave St. Louis, MO 63139-2769) to arrive by June 30, 2025. It's also a good idea to send a signed letter to your employer.
What If You Get Pushback or Are Told You Missed the Opt Out Window?
If you send your employer and AFT St. Louis your opt out letter and are told you have to wait to leave your union, you can ask them to keep it on file for that window, or get help opting out sooner.
Some experts believe that the Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME means teachers should not be locked into a membership they were forced to have as a condition of employment and are free to opt out any time. Several organizations are successfully working with teachers to help them resign outside of their union’s opt out window. If you need help, please contact us at info@teacherfreedom.org.
Are you interested in leaving AFT St. Louis and stopping dues from being deducted from your paycheck?
Here’s what you need to know about canceling your St. Louis Teachers Union membership:
- Union membership is no longer mandatory for teachers.
- Leaving AFT St. Louis will not affect your teaching contract or your tenure.
- Negotiated benefits such as salary and health insurance are not dependent on union membership.
- You are not alone. Thousands of teachers have chosen to leave their teachers union. Hear educators share their stories.
- Other non-union teacher associations can provide liability insurance, legal representation, and other benefits, often at a fraction of the cost.
If you want to leave AFT St. Louis, timing matters. The union has said teachers have until June 30 to decide whether or not they want to stay in the union. If you decide to cancel your membership after that date it could be a lot more challenging to exercise your rights before next year.
How to Cancel AFT St. Louis Union Membership
If you've decided to cancel your St. Louis Teachers Union membership, we can help guide you through the process.
- Fill out the form on the right to personalize the opt out letter with your information.
- Download or email yourself a copy of the letter and print.
- Send a signed written notice via U.S. mail to AFT St. Louis, Local 420 COPE Committee (2710 Hampton Ave St. Louis, MO 63139-2769) to arrive by June 30, 2025. It's also a good idea to send a signed letter to your employer.