Questions About Teachers Unions?
A coming Supreme Court ruling may significantly impact your rights as an educator.
We’ve built a new online resource to answer questions about the Janus case.
For many Christians in public schools, unions can be a touchy subject. As I hear from CEAI members, I know many of you share my own story. As a teacher and union member I discovered how my state and national unions were spending my dues, and grew very concerned. I learned that much of my dues were going to political and moral causes that I could not, in good conscience, support as a Christian. Though I sometimes appreciated the work of my local association, I felt compelled to resign my membership. As I taught in a forced union state, I became an agency fee payer.
However, I’ve also talked to many teachers who so appreciate the work of their local, that they choose to remain in the union to show their support. Additionally, I know others who have shared with me that they are called to try to change their union from within, so they remain a member. Many of these educators maintain membership in both their union and CEAI.
If you are in a forced union state, you may have a very important decision to make soon. Many of you know that a ruling in the Supreme Court case of Janus v. AFSCME is expected next month. The ruling that most observers expect will mean that educators and other government sector workers in forced union states will be free to quit their unions without paying agency fees or becoming religious objectors.
Unions are busy preparing for this eventuality, and are redoubling their efforts to recruit and retain members before they lose their monopoly. In this kind of environment, it’s easy for the truth to be obscured. This is why we have created a new online resource to answer questions that you or your colleagues may have.
Would you take a look at ceai.org/unions and let me know what you think? How can it be improved? Please comment below. While you are there, be sure to check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
And would you pray that God would continue to use CEAI to encourage, equip, and empower Christian educators in our schools?
Blessings,
David Schmus
Executive Director
Christian Educators Association International