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 The Chicago Teachers Union made another commitment to politics
on behalf of its members when on Jan. 29 it made a formal endorsement of
incumbent Kim Foxx in the race for Cook County state’s attorney.
While a state’s attorney’s race may seem like an unusual preoccupation for a
teachers’ union, it isn’t CTU’s only puzzling move in recent memory.
In 2019, the CTU sparked outcry from union members by sending a delegation to
Venezuela. While not funded by CTU, the delegation traveled under the CTU banner
and publicly praised the Venezuelan government and its authoritarian President
Nicolás Maduro. Maduro’s regime has been accused in United Nations reports of
grave human rights violations, including using “death squads” to kill more than
6,850 people.
“We didn’t see a single homeless person,” one member of the delegation memorably
tweeted, extolling the country with a poverty rate that exceeded 90% in 2018.
CTU members are within their rights to question the priorities of the union to
whom they pay their hard-earned money. For any number of reasons – including
inadequate representation, disagreement with CTU leadership’s political
activities or a desire to keep more of their paycheck – some teachers may wish
to break ties with their union.
Those teachers have options. Here are answers to frequently asked questions and
other information for teachers who wish to resign membership with their union.
Q: What happens if I am not a member of the union?
A: Nonmembers do not pay any fees to the union. But you are still guaranteed the
benefits provided in the collective bargaining agreement.
That’s because decades ago, Illinois’ government union leaders lobbied for the
exclusive right to represent all public employees – both members and nonmembers.
And that means you retain all benefits provided in your collective bargaining
agreement, regardless of membership status.
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Examples may include the following:
On the other hand, nonmembers are not entitled to
perks guaranteed to members through the union’s internal rules or
membership agreement. Examples may include:
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Voting rights (on ratification of contracts,
strike authorizations, etc.)
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Holding union office or representing the union
as a delegate to a convention
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Utilizing union-negotiated discounts (for
things such as additional life insurance, health clubs, tickets
to events, etc.)
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Maintaining any liability insurance the union
provides, as opposed to insurance provided by the government
employer
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Receiving newsletters or other union
publications
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Attending special union events (such as
meetings, picnics, Christmas parties, etc.)
Q: What about liability insurance and job
protection?
A: Alternative associations – such as the Association of American
Educators – offer liability insurance and job protection coverage,
often at a fraction of the cost of union membership.
Q: How do I opt out of the union?
A: Fill out the form on leavectu.com. Letters will be sent to CTU
and CPS on your behalf, telling them you are resigning union
membership and demanding that union dues stop coming out of your
paycheck.
Q: What if CPS or CTU doesn’t honor my request to opt out of the
union?
A: You can opt out of union membership at any time and protect
yourself against union punishment – such as fines – should you
choose to cross a picket line.
But some employers, influenced by union misinformation, are not
immediately stopping dues deductions after employees opt out of
union membership. And some unions – including CTU – are refusing to
stop deducting dues unless requests are submitted within a specific
time window dictated by internal union rules. For CTU, that window
is Aug. 1 to Aug. 31.
We believe it is unconstitutional for employers and unions to
continue deducting dues from nonmember paychecks.
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