Maybe this question depends on your personal situation and the state you teach in, but I’m at year 8 now and have always been a union member.

I’m at a public school in Florida. The fees are $80/month and being that the union hasn’t done much to get us a living wage in recent years, my budget is getting tighter. I need to cut some corners and looking like the union dues might be on the chopping block.

So far in all 8 years I’ve only contacted the union one time. It was to ask a question about some contract details. I got the run around and everyone I spoke to at the union answered my question differently.

It’s obvious that they must not be doing anything all day except twiddling their thumbs at their desks and then giving union members vague and incorrect responses when they call in for help.

At this point, veteran teachers only move up $200/year on the pay scale, while the starting teacher pay in my district is now only $300 less than I am making at year 8.

Every year our “raises” and “bonuses” get smaller and smaller. They make it seem like they’re always fighting tooth and nail “for teachers to be paid and treated respectfully”, but I think it’s all talk no action. This year it looks like our health insurance costs are going up so much that our pay is actually going BACKWARDS after factoring in inflation, property tax increase and higher health insurance premiums.

I guess the union is like an insurance policy for a teacher in the case we were ever at risk of legal trouble or job loss? But I don’t feel that confident based on what Ive seen from our union so far, so it’s hard to continue to justify the membership cost.

So, are you in the union and do you feel it’s beneficial? Or is it a waste of money for a false sense of security and no financial gain?