You know, aside from collective bargaining, I really don't see what my union does for me and I pay A LOT of dues. If I had the choice not to join, I probably wouldn't. Yeah sure, they would pay for an attorney if I needed one for a work related issue(student vs. teacher) but really what are the chances? (knock on wood) I'm a member of AFT and NEA, and I too don't like the liberal agenda, but I don't have the choice to join or not...and it's not against my religion, so I can't use that as a back up.