Camp Hill, PA – The Keystone Teachers Association (KEYTA), an alternative to the teacher unions, is working with dozens of members across Pennsylvania who have decided to challenge certain fees charged by the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the National Education Association (NEA). The charges, which the PSEA claims are used to basically cover contract negotiation expenses, currently total $405 per teacher per year, for teachers who decide not to join the union. Educators in over two thirds of Pennsylvania’s school districts are forced to pay this fee.
According to many KEYTA teachers, the PSEA and NEA support numerous non-educational and social organizations with members’ dues. The goals of these organizations often run counter to a teacher’s personal or religious beliefs. A complete list of the organizations that the PSEA and NEA support can be found at KEYTA.org.
“Unlike the teacher’s union, KEYTA spends none of its members’ dues to support politicians, or social agendas unrelated to education,” said Denise Pollard, sixth grade teacher in western Pennsylvania and KEYTA board member. “This is why we are assisting educators in challenging these union fees.”
For years KEYTA has been fighting to repeal the law, Act 84 of 1988 known as the Agency Shop Law, which allows this fee collection to occur. By succeeding in its repeal, all Pennsylvania educators would once again have their freedom of association restored.
“At this critical economic time in our nation’s history, Pennsylvania families are struggling to survive as a result of 76,200 jobs lost over the past 12 months,” said Randy Hoffman, KEYTA president and 26 year veteran science teacher. “However, PSEA’s president earned $272,071 last year, which was a pay increase of $74,352 over his prior year’s income of $197,719. His increase alone is more than the current average teacher’s salary in Pennsylvania, which is approximately $55,000 per year. Our educators should not be forced to fund outrageously high executive salaries under the guise of collective bargaining expenses.”
Educators deserve an association that protects their rights and individual freedoms. At a time when educators are teaching students about their individual rights, it seems hypocritical that the unions do not allow the same for the educators themselves.
The Keystone Teachers Association is a professional educators’ association representing the teachers of Pennsylvania. KEYTA seeks to increase the respect and professionalism of teachers and believes that its primary purpose is to promote academic and ethical standards by which children can develop wisdom, knowledge, skills and confidence. www.keyta.org
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