The main reason teachers join the union is for the legal insurance. Teachers fear being sued by parents. When the union rep comes to talk to the faculty at the beginning of the year, that is the main talking point. 'Our lawyers are at your disposal.' 'We will back you in court.' In some states teachers can buy their own liability insurance as a rider on their homeowners policy - for a very few dollars a year. In one state I was told by my insurance agent, "We don't sell liability insurance to our public school teachers. We have an unwritten agreement with the union."
In the state of Washington, the districts have $1 million protection. The union then provides additional if a judgment against a teacher is above that. Yes, there are other programs.
Yes you are correct. I am a new teacher in LAUSD. Due to the fact that I am an intern, I had to take a one-week unpaid course given by the local union. During our meeting the selling point for us to join the union was so that we could get the $1 million dollar insurance policy to protect us in the event we had a problem in the classroom. Sounds great right? I'm trying to figure out what to do, drop out and be an agency fee payer or stay in and opt out so I can keep the insurance policy. I appreciate the info and help from this post.