Teacher truths: You are not a bad colleague for opting out of the union
September is the annual opportunity for Minnesota educators who are union members to assess their relationship with Education Minnesota, the state’s teachers’ union.
Many teachers are concerned about how their co-workers will react if they decide that union membership is not the best option for them and their families. But union membership is a personal decision. And teachers are deciding to resign from the union for a variety of reasons. Having choices empowers teachers, and exercising your rights is a good and admirable thing.
Remember, the union fought for the privilege of acting as the exclusive bargaining representative, meaning it must represent both members and nonmembers in good faith.
You are not a bad colleague if you decide union membership is not the best option for you and your family, and teachers from across the country want to reassure you of this. Listen to their experiences below.