MyPayMySay has announced that educators across the United States are reassessing how union dues are allocated, particularly in relation to funds used for political activities such as lobbying and advocacy. This announcement was made in a press release on March 14.
According to Americans for Fair Treatment, the National Education Association (NEA), which has over 2.8 million members, allocated more than $50 million to political activities in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Nearly 99% of its election contributions went to Democrats. Similarly, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), with 1.7 million members, spent $46.9 million on political activities, with 99.90% directed to Democratic candidates in the current election cycle. Combined, both unions heavily support left-wing causes, with minimal contributions to Republicans.
The Freedom Foundation reports that Oregon teacher Kelsey, who had been a member of the Oregon Education Association (OEA) for 16 years, decided to opt out of her union after attending a mandatory district recruiting meeting. She found that the union’s priorities no longer aligned with her values and cited the financial burden of membership dues, which can exceed $1,000 annually, as a factor in her decision. Kelsey’s experience reflects a growing trend among educators choosing to opt out during the “opt-out window” before the end of September, allowing them to save over $1,000 by forgoing union dues for the year.
The press release highlights that the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME confirmed that public employees have the right to refuse paying union fees that support political activities they oppose. This decision has granted educators more control over whether their earnings contribute to union-backed political causes. However, many teachers remain unaware of their ability to opt out of these fees, underscoring the need for better transparency and education on this matter.
MyPayMySay (MPMS) is committed to empowering educators by offering essential resources, advocacy, and support to address challenges in today’s classrooms. MPMS advocates for policies emphasizing teacher autonomy, student achievement, and access to tools required for high-quality education.
