$50 Million in Forced Dues?

In case anyone might question whether teachers are really forced to pay or support a labor union (National Education Association or American Federation of Teachers to name the big ones) one need only look at the $50 million the NEA is going to slash from their budget at the upcoming July annual meeting.  Were they not worried about LOSING that amount of money, it’s doubtful it would be  slashed from the budget.

Mike Antonucci has the NEA’s proposed plans to keep going after the Janus (brought by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, of which CEAFU is a Special Project) decision is handed down, in the74million.org.  It seems like teacher union officials don’t have much faith, either in their own members to remain loyal, or in the goods and services they offer those members so they would remain loyal.  An effective union doesn’t need to force members to join.  An ineffective one should not have the right to force members to join.

Mike points out some other interesting facts, such as the fact that noticeable membership growth occurred in states where forced dues can be collected.

When delegates to the National Education Association meet in Minneapolis in July, union leaders will introduce a two-year budget that cuts expenditures by $50 million, an estimated 13 percent reduction from this year.

Though the proposed budget cuts will not take effect until September, NEA has already begun to reduce staff, eliminating 41 staff positions through buyouts, early retirements, and attrition. NEA employs more than 500 people at its Washington, D.C., headquarters; the average salary is $123,613 plus benefits.