Teachers support EFF's efforts to hold union accountable

The Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) has been contacted by more than 2,000 Washington public school teachers who actively support our work to hold the Washington Education Association (WEA) accountable to state campaign laws and to the free speech rights of union members.

We’ve included excerpts from some recent e-mails from teachers below. Due to teachers' privacy concerns (in the past, the WEA has sued teachers who spoke out), we are withholding names and school districts:

(5/4/02)
Keep up the good work. The union continues to show its colors and true purposes. It is truly out of touch with those it is bilking. I think you'll be seeing a mass exodus. Keep informing people about options for liability insurance, and the option of only belonging to the locals. You might contact the local unions and let them know that there are many teachers who only want to belong to the locals for collective bargaining, and it would be wise not to totally disenfranchise them.

(4/18/02)
I absolutely agree that we should not be forced to belong to the union and I support virtually none of their political agenda. Since salaries are set at a state level I see no need for a union at all, and resent the offices, personnel and salaries used to promote an agenda I do not support and which does nothing for me.

(4/18/02)
We are required to pay union dues whether we want to be part of the association or not. We are told that we are required to pay dues and there is no way around it. Does this sound reasonable? As a guidance counselor I don't necessarily feel supported by the union and would like out. Any advice?

(4/25/02)
I would like information on how to become an agency fee payer and get out of the WEA. I am disgusted by the politics of the organization and am tired of paying money to support causes/politicians that I do not believe in.

While I am in favor of higher teacher pay, it is becoming increasingly obvious that WEA is doing little to improve salaries. Union leadership seems more interested in furthering a political cause instead of helping kids. The dues increase was the last straw. Requiring us to pay more money to throw mud at people who do not share your views is too much for me to handle. I WANT OUT!

Please let me know of any forms that need to be filled out or letters that need to be mailed so I can live a life free from [WEA] "harassment." The fact that the WEA requires money in order for me to work as a teacher in this state is nothing short of legalized extortion.

(5/3/02)
... I am angry that my district has the highest union dues in the state by far. I feel that I am being cheated and that my money from these dues is being wasted. I would like to get that money back somehow. I don't believe in a lot of ways in which my money is being spent. Any further ideas, please let me know. Thank you.

(5/3/02)
Prior to the WEA Rep Assembly, our local union polled the members on the idea of the $3/month dues increase. Apparently, 60% said "NO!" within our local ... Our "representatives" said "we have heard you strongly express your concerns about the increase" and we will carry it to the Rep Assembly as one voice.

Later, we were told that 75% of the overall Reps had voted, by secret ballot of course, in favor of the dues increase, which will be used for, among other things, a potential "strike" in the fall. I find that very curious that our local was so strongly against it and yet the rest of the state approved it overwhelmingly. I would wager that most union members (I am not, being a religious objector) were against this but our "Representatives" were for it. Isn't union officials voting for a dues increase like Congress giving themselves a pay raise?

I think we have returned to "taxation without representation."

(4/30/02)
... I also would like to know why I keep having $50.00 a month taken out of my check when I don't want to belong to WEA? There are others in my building and other friends of mine in other districts who have that same question. We would like that money to go to a well-deserving charity in our community if at all possible. Could you please let us know how to go about getting our $50.00 earmarked for charity directly out of our checks? Thanks! ... I am getting some heat from our building rep. about not belonging and being a "scab". It wasn't pretty in the lunchroom one day. My principal did call the union though and let them know that kind of harassment won't be tolerated in this building. Thank you for all of your hours of work for those of us who don't agree with what the union is doing. I appreciate your support!

(4/24/02)
When I taught in T... I was NOT a member of NEA, but here I do not have a choice and I feel that I am not being supported. In T... we considered this organization to be good for approving movies and making TV ads... and that's all. Therefore, I will most definitely research how my rep. votes. But disagreeing with the NEA trend will cause me nothing but grief.

(4/18/02)
When I was in... the dues were totally optional -- you either were a member or not. There was no "representation fee" for those who didn't join. And to top it off, the dues were about $320 a year, not double that amount that I have been paying since arriving in Washington! I appreciate your help in keeping a watch on what WEA is doing! I know that ... Education Association is asking its members whether or not they are willing to increase dues by $3.00 a month next year! This is to apparently pay for materials used in a possible strike -- posters, signs, etc! What a joke! Our union dues are outrageous anyway, not to mention that a strike is not appropriate at a time like this.

I would appreciate your feedback on whether this refund that the e-mail discussed is applicable to WEA members. If it is, I am definitely interested in getting the instructions!
Thanks for your help!

(4/18/02)
I don't know if I got my check or not, but if I didn't, my preference would be that the money go to your organization rather than NEA or WEA. I have always had a problem with these two organizations endorsing political candidates I am utterly opposed to and using my money to do it. It's an egregious offense against my rights.

Furthermore, I do not feel the union is doing anything except hurting the profession it claims to protect. Apparently its external business is to defend the weakest links. Teachers who are incompetent and absolutely the kiss of death for some kids, are impossible to budge or really even to remediate because the union paralyzes any administrator who challenges them . . . The union protects these people and, at the same time, taints every honest teacher in the profession.

The union's internal objective is of course to maintain and manage its incredible purse and the power and influence it generates . . . Is it possible to completely stop paying union dues or have them be donated to charity or even your organization? . . . I am interested in what you have to say and what my options are. Please send me some more information.

More information for teachers:

www.myrefund.org
www.ichoosecharity.org
www.defendteachers.org

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org