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Like the rest of America, teachers in Arkansas have been following the news in Wisconsin and elsewhere as thousands of union teachers are converging at state houses across the country. Some used fake doctor’s notes to protest as school systems across the state were forced to shut their doors. These protests have outraged teachers from coast to coast, leaving many questioning their membership in local unions and have even led some searching for alternatives.
The clash between public sector unions and state governments has been brewing for years as states and localities are faced with unprecedented budget shortfalls and underfunded pensions and healthcare policies in forced union states. Despite pleas to work with unions from legislators, union bosses have made it clear that they would rather see teachers laid off in certain states than make concessions during difficult economic times.
While the unions claim that Wisconsin Governor Walker is trying to take away the “right” to collective bargain in the state, the harsh reality is that the legislation seeks to end forced unionism- the practice in which one is required to join the union as a condition of employment- not take away individual rights. On the contrary, what could be more democratic than allowing teachers to make the choice for themselves whether the union meets their needs?
In no way does the legislation eliminate the union; rather, it reigns in their ability to forcibly collect dues from teachers. The practice of allowing teachers to think for themselves effectively cuts off millions to union political action accounts. With their monopoly being threatened, the union is pulling out all the stops to disable this legislation, regardless of the affect on the professionalism of teachers, children in the classroom, or taxpaying citizens.
The unions have enabled AWOL legislators in Wisconsin with their rhetoric, fueled never ending protests, trashed state capitols, and have left their posts in the classroom for days- all in effort to halt this legislation. Their leaders are clearly more concerned with strikes and sick-outs than the students of Wisconsin.
For years, local educators have joined teachers unions in thinking their money was going to advance their profession. Unfortunately, the National Education Association (NEA) and their local counterpart, the Arkansas Education Association (AEA), have grown into behemoth special interest groups that clearly do not use their member dues exclusively for the advancement of the teaching profession. Luckily for Arkansas teachers, they can and should make informed choices on where to spend their hard earned dollars.
Many local union teachers believe that due to Arkansas’ status as a Right to Work state, this behavior does not affect their membership in the AEA. On the contrary, regardless of whether dues are forcibly collected or not does not change the fact that teachers directly support the tactics of the NEA at large through their dues contribution.
What teachers need to know is that the AEA and NEA are organizations whose goals are centered on funding liberal advocacy groups, social causes, and the ability to coerce teachers into the unprofessional behavior exhibited in Wisconsin. They will stop at nothing to keep dues money flowing, their organization powerful, and -- in some states -- mandatory.
The writing is on the wall: the time is now for teachers to understand their options. The fact is there is a non-union, professional association as an alternative for Arkansas teachers. The Arkansas State Teachers Association (ASTA) is the state’s largest non-union professional association for educators, providing liability insurance and professional development resources at a fraction of the cost.
Take the opportunity to examine the difference between the NEA/AEA and ASTA for yourself. If you find you cannot identify with the tactics used by AEA’s national partner and the unprofessional behavior exhibited by teachers in Wisconsin, then the time is now to reassess your membership.
Our teachers deserve an organization that they can be proud of. Teachers, we urge you to spend your hard earned dollars wisely.
Ronnie Flowers (rflowers@astapro.org )is a public school teacher in Bentonville, Arkansas and a member of the Arkansas State Teachers Association.
Gary Beckner (gbeckner@aaeteachers.org) is the executive director of the Association of American Educators.
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