WEA Use of General Dues for Politics

Teachers who are members of WEA may not realize a significant portion of their member dues are spent by union officials each year on political purposes and causes. The documentation below provides ample proof of WEA's involvement in politics and possible misuse of teacher dues. Additionally, the WEA now admits that teacher dues are used for political purposes.

Many teachers, upon learning of WEA's heavy political involvement, object to this use of their dues, which should be used for collective bargaining purposes.

An organization's political and legislative work should advance the beliefs and interests of their members and must be limited to the resources the organization receives from voluntary donors who share similar ideologies. WEA's use of general dues for political activism ignores the diversity of ideas among teachers and supplants it with a totalitarian approach to influencing elections and legislation.

Below is documentation on WEA's reported political spending. It is important to note that the figures and records below are based on information reported by WEA. A number of "political" activities can be conducted without reporting, such as: campaigns to union members, staff efforts on behalf of a candidate, general opinion polls and member surveys, direct mail and email campaigns, recruiting and mobilizing volunteers, and many, many other activities.

1992-93

1994

1995-96

1997-98

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

For a comparison of WEA political spending versus voluntary political contributions teachers, click here.

What can you do if you object to these political expenditures?

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Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org

Quotables:

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical." - Thomas Jefferson

"If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." - John Stuart Mill