While the traditional teachers union would have the public believe that all teachers share the union’s views, teachers are becoming increasingly dissatisfied by having to join a group that does not always align with one’s individual and personal beliefs, particularly when it comes to workplace decisions and reform.
Results from the Association of American Educators’ 2015 Workforce & Pensions Policy Survey, a survey taken by nearly 700 teachers from all 50 states, indicate that AAE teachers are growing in their support of commonsense reform and professionalism.
Some results from the survey include:
- 98% of teachers agree that “Membership in any education association should be entirely voluntary and no union fees should be paid as a condition of employment in any school.”
- 70% of AAE members support Worker’s Choice policy, a new proposed policy that would allow a teacher to opt-out of the collective bargaining agreement in their district and negotiate their own salary and benefits package.
- 72% of teachers disagree with policies that retain teachers solely on seniority.