You don’t need the union

Professional teacher associations offer liability insurance for a fraction of the cost of union dues.

As teachers’ unions stand with groups who want to make schools less safe by defunding the police and taking away School Resource Officers (SROs), classroom educators look to liability insurance for protection. But many educators don’t know there are non-union professional associations for teachers that offer twice the coverage the union provides its members for a fraction of the cost of union dues.

Membership in either the Association of American Educators or the Christian Educators Association International includes a liability insurance policy that costs less than $200 a year and provides teachers with $2 million in coverage. In contrast, the National Education Association (NEA) offers a $1 million plan paid for through annual dues ranging from $800 to $1,000. In 2019, NEA spent $10.6 million for its policy to cover 2,975,933 members or $3.57 per covered member per year.

Non-union education associations also offer professional benefits and services, including legal protection, job protection benefits, and life, disability, auto and home insurance. Many teachers admire how these non-union professional associations prioritize the needs of teachers and students, not partisan politics.

Teachers who don’t feel represented by the union have affordable alternatives when it comes to liability coverage and other protection. You can find more useful information at www.EducatedTeachersMN.com.