Teachers have union choices

Cindy Omlin's Aug. 15 My Turn advising teachers to consider the NWPE as an alternative to membership in the IEA/NEA teachers union family in Idaho is a great opportunity to review why so many teachers and other professionals choose union representation over non-union bodies like the NWPE.

Ms. Omlin is correct membership in the local/IEA/NEA family is about two times the cost of membership (less than $700) in the NWPE (about $350), and that union membership is an ongoing contract (like many cable or cellphone bills) that requires written cancellation by Oct. 15 (otherwise a small claims action can be filed for breach of contract). But that cancellation is pretty simple - a written letter stating that the person is canceling their membership to the local president; it doesn't even have to give a reason. No one in the CEA has been sued to force payment of their dues, although that is a legal option for breach of contract.

Ms. Omlin paints political action as a negative, but most politicians, administrators and teachers know that few areas are more politically charged than education. While local and state EAs are often politically active, their purpose in that activism is pragmatic, with a goal of promoting public education as an essential public good. The IEA vets candidates based on their voting records and responses to questions about education issues, not other issues. Similarly, education professionals at the IEA often survey educator members on proposed or approved legislation to determine the legislation's implications or effects. At the national level, Prolife, Republican, and other conservative caucuses participate in the decisions and positions of the NEA at the annual Representative Assembly (the largest democratic decision-making body in the world - 8,000 people). The NEA Legislative Agenda focuses on legislation to benefit public education, students and teachers, and the NEA legislative team works with all legislators who support their efforts regardless of political affiliation.

More important than Ms. Omlin's errors in perception are the actual reasons educators and support professionals choose membership in the CEA (or PFEA, LEA, LPOEA or any of the approximately 15 other local education associations) serving students and teachers in North Idaho. These include:

Professional Development: The IEA offers at no charge informative seminars on Common Core, the law and education, and technology usage in the classroom, ethics, Danielson Framework for Professional Practice, staying healthy and stress free, iPads in the classroom, and social media to create better connections- just to name a few.

Information: Local association leaders attend and participate in school board meetings; Building Representatives communicate with building staffs about significant issues and are available to building colleagues and administrators so problems anticipated and avoided. Members receive email updates on significant issues or concerns on the national, state and local level. NWPE leaders are rarely present at local board meetings, and while Ms. Omlin may show up in a building to hand out a grant, she has little knowledge or interest in the issues that may be affecting students or staff. While the NWPE does provide some research-based support materials for teachers, these pale in comparison to the resources of the NEA Academy and professional research available to Local/IEA/NEA members.

Advocacy: Building reps are in the building to assist their colleagues with issues that arise. Local leaders can step in to help file complaints or grievances if needed, but because building reps are in the buildings, most issues can be resolved "in house," allowing schools to function more professionally and efficiently and focus on student learning and achievement. NWPE does not become involved in conflicts until their members require an attorney.

Legal protection: Respected IEA attorney Paul Stark advises Idaho legislators, local leaders and members, and generally helps resolve issues without going to court. The NWPE will find you an attorney, but will not advocate for you beforehand, when the stress and taxpayer expense of a court case could be avoided.

Negotiations: Local associations represent certificated personnel in contract negotiations and have access to information and support from the IEA which is actively involved with legislators to develop education policies that include input from education professionals and are based on research and best practices. The NWPE does not engage in negotiations so educators are at the mercy of underfunded districts and the caprice of their administrations and boards or the political interests they may face.

National support: The structure of the Local EA/IEA/NEA serves educators by giving them perspectives beyond their classroom, school and local community. Education reform takes many shapes and forms across the nation, and the NEA, made up of members from all of those local communities, serves as a clearing house for best practices, systems and innovations. Current issues include Common Core, "toxic testing" (over- and misuse of tests to shame and blame), and the NEA develops its legislative and philosophical positions based on research and the democratic decision-making of the 8,000 members of the Representative Assembly.

Every Idaho teacher is free to make their own decision on union membership, alternatives, or non-participation in a professional association. Knowledgeable and informed educators and support professionals are most likely to choose a local network of influence, 100+ years of state activism for public education in the IEA, and the national organization and resources of the NEA, and then work within those organizations for the best interest of their students and community. That organization is their local IEA/NEA affiliate. In Kootenai County, these are the CEA, PFEA, LEA. We look forward to joining your strength with ours in the service of all our students.

Bruce Twitchell is the Coeur d'Alene Education Association vice president.