As a 20+ year member of two AFL-CIO unions (SAG and AFTRA), I pay dues based on my annual income.
It is my understanding that all members of the Little Rock Education Association (LREA) pay the same dues ($30 X 24 pay periods = $720 a year), no matter their income, which has a disproportionately negative impact on the take home pay of new teachers who choose to join the union. In fact, new teachers who join the union are welcomed with an immediate 2.2% reduction in salary.
Starting teachers in Little Rock are already 78th in Arkansas. Reduce that $720, and starting Little Rock union teachers now make $32,073 a year, dropping their rank 14 spots to 92nd.
And lest you think that would be the case with any district, the Little Rock School District is one of only a handful in the state with union collective bargaining. Springdale, which ranks number one in every salary schedule, does not have union representation for collective bargaining. Springdale starting teachers make $43,220 - $10,427 (31.8%) more than Little Rock's independent teachers and $11,207 (34.9%) more than Little Rock's LREA teachers.
When it comes to salary increases, the union advocates for percentage increases. But when it comes to dues for its members, everybody pays the same, further exacerbating the salary gap between new and veteran teachers.
2.2% of starting teacher salaries goes to support a union which consistently demonstrates that it values veteran teachers far more than new. For example, while starting teachers rank 78th (BA) and 43rd (MA) in the state, veteran teachers' salaries are in the top ten in all schedules.
A complete analysis of what the $720 drop does to all salary schedule rankings will be posted on Monday.
Twice a year, I write a check to each of my unions. Union dues in the Little Rock Education Association is payroll deducted just like Social Security and state and federal income tax, then sent to the LREA. All collection and distribution costs are assumed by the Little Rock School District.
The district also pays the salary of the teacher who is the full-time LREA president, as though she/he were in the classroom, which he/she is not
While teachers may join the LREA at any time, there is a narrow two to three week window (around the end of June) when they may quit. If they miss it, they're stuck with payroll deducted membership dues for another year.
While the union is given the opportunity to make its case for membership collectively to all incoming teachers, comparable consideration is not given to any group or individual sharing that the Arkansas constitution gives all citizens, including new teachers, the right to work regardless of their affiliation or non-affiliation with a union. In the private sector, this would be management's responsibility.
Payroll deducted dues and footing the bill for union leadership and dues collection are all choices made by the Little Rock School Board. Throw in fixed, across-the-board dues and unequal joining and quitting windows, and it reads to me that the Little Rock School board doesn't know the difference between labor and management.
1,426 Little Rock Education Association teachers (as of January 2010) paying $720 each equals $1,026,720 in total annual dues revenue. It would be illuminating to know, even generally, where this money is spent and what benefits are provided to member teachers. Would also be of value to know what percentage goes to the Arkansas Education Association (AEA) and/or the National Education Association (NEA). The latter partners with the American Federation of Teachers as one of the largest contributors to federal election campaigns.
When labor has representatives on both sides of the bargaining table, students are not the top priority.
On all facts, as always, I stand to be corrected.
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