Breaking the Chains of the Teachers Union

Like so many young, first-year teachers, I was completely overwhelmed by the world of teaching. There were so many moving parts, documents and aspects to consider when it came to managing a classroom and creating the best learning environment for all my students. I was just trying to keep my head above water and praying my supervisor never walked in. So when an older, veteran teacher came in and started talking sternly to me about my need to join the teacher’s union, I immediately complied. I was told I needed the union because it would protect me and fight for my teacher’s contract — and because every teacher in the school was already part of the union and I wouldn’t want to be the lone holdout. She handed me the form and a pen and told me to sign right then and there. So I joined.

Over the next eight years, I never had any issues with being a dues-paying member of the teacher’s union. All was quiet and time just moved along. Then in June 2021, the red flags started to fly. The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) put out a legislative position statement speaking on behalf of its 178,000 members, urging opposition to SB 618, which would prohibit Pennsylvania school districts from requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to access buildings or receive services. The union’s statement violated my beliefs and I was offended that PSEA presumed to speak on behalf of its entire membership without first asking anyone’s opinion.

The second red flag appeared when the National Education Association (NEA) pledged to push Critical Race Theory (CRT) through the entire nation’s public school system. It also pledged to oppose attempts to ban Critical Race Theory and/or the 1619 Project. After this came out, I felt completely helpless, and it seemed I had no control over what these organizations were supporting and pushing. Then it hit me the only thing I can ever control is me — and, in this case where my money goes and what it funds.

So I made the decision to opt out of the union. I was then put into contact with the Freedom Foundation’s Pennsylvania team. The Freedom Foundation was able to answer all my questions and ease my concerns regarding opting out of the union, such as the legality of it, benefits and wages being denied, and being discriminated against. They provided me with professional representation, including an opt-out letter stating that I resign membership on all levels to the PSEA and that my dues can no longer be taken from me. I signed the document, and they mailed it certified to PSEA. I then notified my HR department of my departure from the union.

The Freedom Foundation served as an indispensable buffer between myself and PSEA, and I was never contacted or bullied about my decision to opt out of the union. Having the Freedom Foundation’s help to opt out of the union was a simple, free, enlightening, and empowering process that helped reinforce and solidify my decision.

So there I was, out of the teacher’s union, but still a special education teacher employed in a public school system. Now what? I had been following a public school teacher from Virginia, Lilit Vanetsyan, on social media, and her posts went viral multiple times after speaking at school board meetings regarding masks and the evolving downfall of the public school system. Her social media page, “Teachers for Truth,” provided me the resource for how to move forward. I contacted a professional Pennsylvania teachers association called KEYTA (Keystone Teachers Association). They are an independent and nonpartisan teachers’ association that has been around since 1993. I reached out to them and reviewed the KEYTA website and found that they provide educators with liability insurance and legal advice. They have many overlapping similarities with the union, such as providing member representation, attorney assistance, liability coverage and additional insurance benefits. However, they differ in that they do not endorse political candidates, have a Political Action Committee (PAC), or contribute to political parties or political organizations.

KEYTA’s objective is to promote professionalism in education and do what is best for students. Its members work on educational issues and shield dues against use for unrelated social agendas or other extraneous issues. The icing on the cake is that monthly payments are a tiny fraction of what I was paying to the union. After joining KEYTA, I felt an immense relief and happiness that I had found something I was proud to be a part of, but also frustration that I have never heard of KEYTA years earlier.

Since finding KEYTA and leaving the union thanks to the Freedom Foundation, I have been motivated and driven to bring this information to other educators so they can also make the most informed decision for themselves. Through different social media outlets and word of mouth, I have been able to meet and speak with many teachers and support staff about the common misconceptions surrounding leaving the teachers’ union. I also created and run the website Union Choice for School Workers which provides factual information and resources to all school workers regarding their rights, options and making informed decisions about the teachers union. Along with how union dues paying members money is funding political agendas and organizations. What I have found is that most of them feared the backlash they may face from their peers and building union representatives. They’re unsure whether their job security and position would remain intact, and if they left, what protection and coverage would they be able to get?

Almost all the educators I’ve spoken with told me they felt alone in their thinking and were the minority in their schools when it came to how they viewed the union. Being able to connect like-minded public school employees and provide them the answers, support and resources they otherwise would not have received, has been extremely rewarding.

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