United Federation of Teachers Opt Out Window: What Teachers need to know

Are you interested in leaving the United Federation of Teachers and stopping dues from being deducted from your paycheck?

Here’s what you need to know about canceling your UFT membership:

• Union membership is no longer mandatory for teachers.
• Leaving the United Federation of Teachers 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 UFT, 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. 

Can teachers opt out of UFT COPE payments?

The Committee on Political Education (COPE) is UFT’s political action arm which funds the lobbying of federal, state and city officials and endorses political candidates, with recent support going to Kamala Harris for President and Zohran Mamdani for New York City Mayor. 

UFT COPE contributions are separate from union dues and are typically made through payroll deductions. If you no longer wish to contribute to COPE, you can mail or fax your request to cancel your COPE contribution to: 

United Federation of Teachers
ATTN: COPE Dept.
52 Broadway, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Fax: (212)-510-6435

When submitting your request, which can take 1-2 pay cycles to complete, be sure to include your Name, Member ID# or File# and most recent mailing address.

How to Cancel United Federation of Teachers Membership

If you feel the union is no longer representing your views or have decided to cancel your UFT membership for any reason, we can help guide you through the process. Fill out the form on the right to personalize the opt out letter with your information. Then download or email yourself a copy of the letter and mail it to UFT and your employer.

What If You Get Pushback or Are Told You Missed the Opt Out Window?

If you send your employer and the United Federation of Teachers 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.