Dear Fellow Educator,
Have you heard? The Supreme Court made a big First Amendment decision this summer that affects all public employees, including teachers. The Court said that we can no longer be forced to financially support a union without first giving “affirmative consent.” This means that we do not…
Because of a recent Supreme Court ruling, government unions have an opportunity to reboot for the better, but they are faced with a choice: Will they continue prioritizing a political agenda unrelated to meeting the needs of their members? Or will they be more attentive and responsive to professional interests?
The national teachers’ union (NEA) convention is in Minneapolis this year. While the rest of America is celebrating Independence Day, the teachers’ union is conducting a day of business at the convention center.
If teachers want to influence their union, they have to spend time away from their families and…
The High Court ruled last Wednesday that employees who are nonmembers of the union now must give their affirmative consent before any fees may be deducted from their paycheck. Nonmembers by definition have not given their affirmative consent.
Fair Share Fee Payers. This means that employees who declined to join…
The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mark Janus, a child protection specialist for the State of Illinois, in Janus v. AFSCME.
The Court overturned a 1977 decision called Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, holding that public employees do not have to pay agency fees to a…
In a landmark decision for First Amendment rights, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that public employees cannot be compelled to pay union fees as a condition of employment. The 5-4 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME restores the First Amendment rights of freedom of association and free speech to more…
I was in my office again this morning waiting for the High Court to issue opinions starting at 10:00 AM EST; the Court did not release the Janus opinion this morning. We will, however, hear sometime this week.
I got a sweet note from Mark Janus this morning. He is…
If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Mark Janus this spring, more than five million public employees in Minnesota and 21 other states won’t be forced to pay "fair share" union fees to keep their jobs. Could it restore civility to Minnesota’s politics and classrooms?
Has your union asked you to sign a union renewal agreement? Maybe you already signed one. Education Minnesota had forms filled out and waiting for every teacher in the state when they got back to school last fall.
Why is the union being so persistent in reaching out to teachers,…