Teachers’ Unions 101

Teachers’ unions were first formed in 1857 with the goal of gaining professional respect for teaching, improving pay for teachers, and advancing better working conditions in schools, all through collective bargaining power. 

But do teachers’ unions still exist for that reason?

Recent reporting from Defending Education has revealed that since 2015, unions have funneled over $220 million in member dues to left-wing and far left activist organizations. This jaw dropping amount, likely only scratching the surface, has put a spotlight on teachers’ unions and their purpose – and if it that purpose aligns with the values of the majority of their dues-paying members. 99% of donations from the 2 major teachers unions flow to Democratic campaigns and candidates. Parents and teachers are beginning to look under the hood of teachers’ unions, their earnings, their bias and, increasingly, their ideology. 

Our in-depth report, DivertED, documents the flow of member dues to left-wing and far left activist organizations. Let’s take a step back to understand how teachers’ unions function and learn more about union power in our own districts. Parents and teachers can feel empowered by asking questions.

Questions to Ask

Do public employees, including teachers, have the legal right to collective bargaining or to strike in your state? Basically, are your local teachers’ unions just private professional associations or are they traditional labor unions with collective bargaining rights?

Do teachers in your district belong to a local teachers union? If so, what is the name of your local union?

If you have a local teachers’ union, is it independent or does it belong to a state/international association? 

Is your international association a part of any other voluntary federation of US labor unions – such as the AFL-CIO?

Have you visited the facebook feed of your local teachers’ union?

What are the political leanings of your local union? Your state association?

Do administrators belong to a union? If so, what is the name of the local administrators union? Is that union a member of the American Federation of School Administrators?

Does any portion of member dues automatically go to PAC spending? If so, how much?

How is union leadership elected?

Are teachers aware they do not have to join the teachers union?

Do you know what other organizations your union belongs to, and the political leaning of those organizations?

Do you know the activities and purpose of any other organizations your union supports, and if those activities are political in nature?

How many of your school board members are union-endorsed?