Teaching Profession News in Brief

School Workers in Oregon Sue Union Over Window of Opportunity to Quit

By Tribune News Service — June 18, 2019 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Three Oregon school employees sued their union in federal court last week, arguing it’s unfair that the teachers’ union only lets members drop out and stop paying dues during the month of September.

The suit was filed the same day state lawmakers passed a bill that some believe will make it more difficult for public employees to opt out of union membership. The bill is aimed at codifying a number of “best practices” related to filing complaints, release time for union activities, access to worksites and employee information, and dues collection, according to union leaders.

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling issued last June ended a 40-year mandate that public employees join the union that represents them and their co-workers. But three members of the Oregon Education Association say in their lawsuit that they missed the “fine print” on the annual enrollment forms they completed that said September is the only window during which they can end their membership and void their obligation to pay dues. They say limiting their ability to drop membership to one month a year violates their constitutional rights.

In a decision known as Janus v. AFSCME, the Supreme Court said that the First Amendment prevents unions from compelling public employees to pay dues without their affirmative consent.

A version of this article appeared in the June 19, 2019 edition of Education Week as School Workers in Oregon Sue Union Over Window of Opportunity to Quit

Events

School & District Management Webinar Crafting Outcomes-Based Contracts That Work for Everyone
Discover the power of outcomes-based contracts and how they can drive student achievement.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in Schools
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by Panorama Education
School & District Management Webinar EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?
What issues are keeping K-12 leaders up at night? Join us for EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Teaching Profession The State of Teaching Why Teachers Likely Take So Few Days Off
The perception coincides with teachers' low levels of job satisfaction.
3 min read
survey teachers static
via Canva
Teaching Profession What the Research Says The More Students Miss Class, the Worse Teachers Feel About Their Jobs
Missing kids take a toll on teachers' morale, new research says. Here's how educators can cope with absenteeism.
4 min read
An empty elementary school classroom is seen on Aug. 17, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York. Nationwide, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened after COVID-forced closures. More than a quarter of students missed at least 10% of the 2021-22 school year.
An empty elementary school classroom is seen on Aug. 17, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York. Nationwide, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened after COVID-forced closures. Now research suggests the phenomenon may be depressing teachers' job satisfaction.
Brittainy Newman/AP
Teaching Profession Will Your Classroom Get Enough 'Likes'? Teachers Feel the Social Media Pressure
Teachers active on social media feel the competition to showcase innovative lessons and beautiful decorations.
5 min read
Image of a cellphone on a desk.
iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession New Findings on Teacher Morale Highlight Ways to Make It Better
A new College Board survey on teacher morale echoes some previous findings. But it also highlights opportunities for schools to improve it.
4 min read
A student raises her hand to share her work with her teacher.
A student raises her hand to share her work with her teacher.
Allison Shelley for All4Ed