Blog - Independent Teachers

16 Nov

Teachers who are members of the Colorado Education Association (CEA) are eligible for as much as $65 in annual political refunds through the Every Member Option (EMO) program. The CEA raises political funds through a structure known as EMO. In 2015-16, $41) is deducted from the yearly earnings of every full-time member teacher (part-time member teachers and support personnel pay a lesser amount) to fund the EMO, which exclusively finances local and state political campaigns.

CEA members who wish to receive an EMO refund must submit their requests in writing by DECEMBER 15. Many CEA local associations also have a refundable EMO that must be requested separately. Local EMOs are as much as $24.

To find EMO refund request online forms, contact information, and from letters, please visit the Political Refunds page.

17 Aug

Many Workers Don’t Know Union Member Rights

Tracy

Membership Options, Membership Revocations

National Employee Freedom Week Survey: 1 in 3 Colo. Union Households Unaware of Option to Quit Membership

DENVER—Today, the Independence Institute released the results of a new survey showing that nearly one-third of Colorado union households don’t realize they can opt out of union membership and paying some or all dues without fear of penalty.

The survey is part of National Employee Freedom Week (NEFW), an annual national campaign that informs union members about their workplace rights, specifically their right to leave their union. NEFW runs Sunday, August 16, through Saturday, August 22, and consists of a record 99 organizations in 42 states.

View a list of the grassroots coalition that makes up NEFW here. View the NEFW website here.

The Google Consumer Survey poll surveyed 300 union members and union households in Colorado and found that 32.5 percent of respondents answered “No” to the question, “Are you aware that you can opt-out of union membership and of paying a portion of your union dues without losing your job or any other penalty?” Nationally, the figure is 39.2 percent.

11 Aug

Pueblo Teachers (& other K-12 Employees): Options to Get Union Money Back End Sept. 15

Tracy

Colorado Education Association, Membership Revocations

Have you driven through Pueblo lately? Thanks to National Employee Freedom Week, you may have seen this new billboard appear:

(It’s not just Pueblo. Many other Colorado school districts have brief opt-out windows for current members, and a few others — Colorado Springs 11, Alamosa, South Conejos — also have annual opt-out windows for non-members. Check out revocation information for Teachers and for Classified Employees)

28 Jun

National Employee Freedom Week Wraps Up: What about Local-Only Option?

Tracy

Membership Options

June 24-28 has been designated the first-ever National Employee Freedom Week. “National Employee Freedom Week is a national effort to inform union employees of the freedom they have regarding opting out of union membership and making the decision about union membership that’s best for them.” The Independence Institute is one of more than 40 organizations across the United States to join in celebrating the occasion. The following post is part of a series highlighting the issue’s impact in Colorado.

Is it Friday already? Wow, what a National Employee Freedom Week — starting with the news that 3 out of every 8 Colorado union members would quit the union if they could. We’ve spent time this week appreciating the options Colorado teachers currently enjoy, but also noting that opportunities exist to expand those freedoms and cure some injustices.

27 Jun

Ask First Better, But Every Member Option Gives Glimmer of Employee Freedom

Tracy

Colorado Education Association, Political Refunds

When it comes to exercising employee freedom, many Colorado teachers may opt to stay part of the union. But they may not approve of all aspects of what the union does with their money. That’s why the Education Policy Center every year informs educators across the state about the Colorado Education Association’s December 15 deadline to get back the portion of their dues collected to fund local and state political candidates and causes.