Teacher question about teacher represenation groups

trojangal · #1 08-04-2005, 08:27 PM

I wanted to get your opinon on this:

What are your feelings on joining a teacher represenation group ( ex. American Education Association, etc)?

If you joined, how have you benefitted?

If you haven't, why not?

I was at my new hire workshop today, and there were two groups there seeking new members.

IYPO, what are the true benefits of joining? Do you feel it was worth the expense?

#2 08-04-2005, 08:33 PM

I never did because many of the ones I saw have VERY liberal agendas and well, that's just not me. It's good to have for legal protection though in case you are ever sued.

BirthaBlue4 · #3 08-04-2005, 09:02 PM

Well, we have our union, which we have to join unless we have religious reasons not to. And the general professional organizations like the CEC. Which kind are you talking about specifically?

trojangal · #4 08-05-2005, 11:02 PM

This particular system only offers AEA ( American Education Association) and AFT ( American Federation of Teachers). Unfortunately, they do not have the group that I was part of last year, which wasn't a union per se, but more of a professional organization that offered liability coverage.

The dues seem a little hefty to me--approx. $39 a month for either of them.

BirthaBlue4 · #5 08-06-2005, 04:36 PM

Professional org dues as a profesional are high. My "union' dues for my local, the MSTA, and the NEA, total was $567ish. They deduct it from our payroll on a monthly basis or you can pay it all.

BBelleADPi · #6 08-06-2005, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ADPiZXalum
I never did because many of the ones I saw have VERY liberal agendas and well, that's just not me. It's good to have for legal protection though in case you are ever sued.

Ditto.

DolphinChicaDDD · #7 08-19-2005, 11:19 AM

Does everyone have the option of joining? During orientation, we were told that we get dues taken out automatically even if we don't want to join. Basically, we could "join" or "not join" but we're still going to have dues taken out anyway. I'm not sure if they meant for the local and national (NEA) or just local.

I would have joined the union anyway, but I was just curious if other districts are like mine.

trojangal · #8 08-21-2005, 11:27 PM

It's voluntary in my state..dues are automatically subtracted out of your check...but too many people have said that it's better to have it and have the legal protection than not...

I do agree that many of the groups are very liberal, and that is why I was having a difficult time in deciding. One group was very vocal about their influence in getting the recent teacher raise passed in my state...

but, I think that was a combination of several factors, not just them.]

PiPhiGirl2005 · #9 08-21-2005, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ADPiZXalum
I never did because many of the ones I saw have VERY liberal agendas and well, that's just not me. It's good to have for legal protection though in case you are ever sued.

Honestly, you are my hero. I agree completely!

I'm pretty anti-union myself, for precisely the same reasons... I just don't support their liberal agenda. I'm a bit of a libertarian.

Unfortunately, I believe that in order to teach in Michigan public schools, you MUST join the union. And, being that Michigan is where I live, I don't want to teach in public schools for this reason. (Someone correct me if I'm completely wrong, but I think that's what I heard in one of my teacher ed classes).

AOII_LB93 · #10 08-25-2005, 07:44 PM

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.