Over the course of your career, how much money will you put in your union’s bank account instead of yours? Use the form below to find out.
Our goal is to inform you of your rights and the facts. Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) and our answers to help you make the best decision for you and your family. If we’ve missed something, please feel free to contact us with your questions HERE.
If you were hired before May 18, 2018, you can notify the Business Administrator at any time, but the “effective date” when the district will stop withholding dues from your paycheck is either July 1 or January 1, whichever comes first after you give notice. If you were hired May 18, 2018 or later, you can notify the Business Administrator at any time, but your “effective date” will be 30 days after the anniversary of your hiring date. So if you were hired on September 1, your next “effective date” would be October 1, 2023.
No, all teachers and paraprofessionals, including those who are not in the union, are covered by the same collective bargaining agreement. Your job, salary, tenure, seniority and health benefits will all stay the same and will continue to be controlled by the collective bargaining agreement, not by the union. If you experience problems with any of these issues, please contact us HERE.
Yes. For a fraction of the costs of your union dues any New Jersey teacher can still receive liability insurance. You can obtain liability insurance from a broad array of reputable insurance companies, or through teachers’ associations like the Association of American Educators, Christian Educators, or American Public Servants Association.
Yes. NJEA members who purchase disability insurance must pay for it in addition to their annual dues. As a non-member, there are a variety of options available to you. Many insurance companies provide disability insurance and are competitive with what the NJEA is currently charging you. Similar options are also available from teachers’ associations like the Association of American Educators, Christian Educators, or American Public Servants Association.
For additional information on obtaining disability insurance as a non-NJEA member, please see the Americans For Fair Treatment webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbxiBm1KZ9c.
No, it is illegal for the NJEA or the local union to retaliate against you. You have legal protections against any retaliation. If you feel you are being retaliated against, please contact Sunlight’s legal team HERE.
This is a common fear, but most folks respect your right to join the association of your choice. A survey of education professionals indicated that 90% of professionals respect the right of their colleagues to join the association of their choice. Exercising your legal right as a professional is never selfish.
No, union membership will have no impact on your tenure or seniority. As a non-member, your tenure and seniority will continue to be controlled by the collective bargaining agreement, not the union.
No, your pension and retirement health benefits are yours as a teacher or paraprofessional, not as a NJEA member. The state provided those to you and will be responsible for them when you retire, not the union.
Yes, if you join a teachers’ association like the Association of American Educators, Christian Educators, or American Public Servants Association, you will get job-related legal representation as part of your membership at a fraction of the cost of your NJEA dues.
It is against the law for your Business Administrator to refuse your request that they stop taking dues out of your paycheck. If your Business Administrator is unresponsive or refuses to honor your request, please contact Sunlight’s New Jersey legal team HERE. We stand ready to help you exercise your 1st Amendment rights.
More Questions? Contact us and we’ll be happy to provide answers and support. Be informed and be empowered.
The law is on your side and our New Jersey legal team stands ready to support your decision to stop paying dues and leave the NJEA. All NJEA members have the 1st Amendment right to stop paying dues and leave the NJEA. No one — not the NJEA, your local, your principal or superintendent, or your Business Administrator — can stop you from exercising your rights. No one can retaliate against you for exercising your rights. You have legal protections. If you believe that someone is impeding your right to stop paying dues or that you are suffering retaliation, please contact our legal team HERE. We stand ready to help you defend your 1st Amendment rights.