Don’t know if teachers are required to pay union dues. If so they can demand the union only withhold the portion of their dues necessary to perform its duties as a collective bargaining representative and not for political activism. (Communications Workers of America v. Beck ) When I worked in the USPS the union was exempt from this law because membership is optional. If you join the union it’s all or nothing. So I chose nothing
at many or most schools, union membership is mandatory as either a condition of employment (excepting right to work states)
or as a practical expedient just to survive there
and yes, a union member CAN ask that the political portion of their dues not be charged
HOWEVER,
1. unions designate just how much of the dues are political. I have known a couple unions who designated a ridiculously Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny amount as qualified for Non-Assessment. Like maybe $2 a month when the dues are over $100-$150
there is no effective recourse from this cheating.
a person could sue the union, but that’s not practical for most folks just trying to survive on a wage
AND...
send in a request like that to your union and it is a DEAD RINGER that your union identifies you... you can kiss off any genuine Duty of Representation in case you need any help keeping your job.
> Don’t know if teachers are required to pay union dues. <
At one time it was mandatory in closed shop states. You either paid union dues or you paid your “fair share”, which wasn’t much less than the actual dues. I worked in one of those states.
Then about five years ago the Supreme Court ruled that union membership was optional in government organizations.
Unions are corrupt. Nevertheless, I told my teacher friends to be careful about leaving. A teacher with no union membership was an easy target for a vindictive administrator. And I do know good teachers who left the union, and soon after got fired.
In that regard, the whole system stinks.