(The Center Square) – National teacher unions contribute at least 10% of their annual budget to lobbying and political activism, which includes calling for the impeachment of Republican President Donald Trump in the 2026 American Federation of Teachers handbook. Efforts also include supporting Democratic causes such as messaging against immigration enforcement.
Some teachers raise questions about whether union dues are being used to advance causes the instructors actually support.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%@55 {@677=6C[ 2 r2=:7@C?:2 6=6>6?E2CJ AF3=:4 D49@@= E62496C 7@C @G6C ad J62CD[ D2:5 E96 4@DE @7 ;@:?:?8 E96 F?:@? 2?5 D@>6 @7 E96:C A@=:E:42= E24E:4D EFC?65 9:> @77]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“z?@H:?8 E92E @FC F?:@? 5F6D H6C6 AC:>2C:=J 8@:?8 E@ s6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6D[ :E H2D G6CJ 5:77:4F=E[Q 96 E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6] k^Am
k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\2=:8?>6?E\=67E E?4>D\:?=:?6\H:5E9\@?6\E9:C5Qmk^2D:56m
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp?@E96C :DDF6 H2D E96 4@DE] w6 :?:E:2==J 564=:?65 E@ ;@:? 9:D F?:@? H96? 96 3682? E6249:?8 3642FD6 E96 5F6D H6C6 E@@ 6IA6?D:G6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“(96? x H2D ;FDE 9:C65 2D 2 ?6H E62496C[ x H2D 2D<65 E@ ;@:? E96 F?:@? 2=@?8 H:E9 2== E96 @E96C ?6H E62496CD[” {@677=6C D2:5] “(6 5:D4FDD65 ;@:?:?8 E96 F?:@?[ 3FE H6 28C665 :E H2D E@@ 6IA6?D:G6[ 2?5 @FC D2=2CJ H2D G6CJ =@H]” k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm{@677=6C C642==65 E92E 2 D62D@?65 E62496C E2AA65 9:> @? E96 D9@F=56C 2?5 D2:5i “*@F 36EE6C ;@:? E96 F?:@?]” qFE 2E E96 E:>6[ {@677=6C D2:5[ >6>36CD9:A H2D G@=F?E2CJ]k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQmkDEC@?8mr=@D65 D9@Ak^DEC@?8mk^9am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%92E 492?865 E96 7@==@H:?8 J62C]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“#62=:K:?8 E92E E@@ >2?J E62496CD H6C6 ?@E ;@:?:?8 E96 F?:@?[ @FC D49@@= 5:DEC:4E E62496CDV F?:@? 492?865 :E E@ 2 4=@D65 D9@A F?:@?[” {@677=6C D2:5] “%92E >256 FD ;@:?[ 2?5 H6 5:5 ?@E =:<6 :E]” k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$E2E6D =:<6 r2=:7@C?:2 2C6 ?@?\C:89E\E@\H@C< DE2E6D[ >62?:?8 E96J 42? C6BF:C6 F?:@? A2CE:4:A2E:@? 2?5 6>A=@J66D E@ A2J 286?4J 766D @C 5F6D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm#:89E\E@\H@C< DE2E6D =:<6 %6I2D @776C F?:@? >6>36CD9:A 2?5 5F6D 2D @AE:@?2= E@ H@C<6CD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmu@C AF3=:4 D49@@= E62496CD E9C@F89@FE E96 &]$][ E92E 2== 492?865 :? a_`g 7@==@H:?8 E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=:?8 :? y2?FD G] pu$r|t[ H9:49 AC@9:3:E65 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 7C@> C6BF:C:?8 E96:C 6>A=@J66D E@ A2J F?:@? 766D 2D 2 4@?5:E:@? @7 6>A=@J>6?E] %96 CF=:?8 2==@HD E62496CD E9C@F89@FE E96 ?2E:@? E@ @AE @FE @7 F?:@?D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmu@==@H:?8 E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCEVD a_`g CF=:?8 :? y2?FD G] pu$r|t[ r2=:7@C?:2 6?24E65 $6?2E6 q:== gee :? a_`g E@ AC6G6?E >F=E:A=6 >6>36CD 7C@> =62G:?8 E96 F?:@? 2E @?46] %96 3:== D9:7E65 E96 >2?286>6?E @7 >6>36CD9:A 5F6D 2?5 2?J H@C<6CDV C6BF6DED 5:C64E=J E@ F?:@?D] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm{@677=6C D2:5 96 A2:5 S`[a__ :? 5F6D 2 J62C E@ E96 pDD@4:2E:@? @7 r=2DDC@@> %62496CD[ 2 492AE6C 277:=:2E65 H:E9 E96 r2=:7@C?:2 %62496CD pDD@4:2E:@?[ E96 DE2E6VD =2C86DE E62496CDV F?:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm{@677=6C D2:5 9:D 4@?46C?D H6?E 36J@?5 E96 4@DE @7 5F6D] w6 @3;64E65 E@ H92E 96 36=:6G65 H2D E96 F?:@?’D A@=:E:42= DA6?5:?8[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :ED DFAA@CE 7@C s6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm{@677=6C 2=D@ BF6DE:@?65 9@H >F49 @7 9:D 5F6D 24EF2==J H6?E E@H2C5 A@=:E:42= 24E:G:EJ 2?5 9@H >F49 H6?E E@H2C5 C6AC6D6?E:?8 E62496CD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%62496CD H6C6 E@=5 F?:@? >6>36CD9:A 4@F=5 AC@G:56 =682= AC@E64E:@? :7 E96J H6C6 DF65 3J 2 A2C6?E @C DEF56?E[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“xE H2D 2 D42C6 E24E:4[” {@677=6C D2:5] “x 5@?’E <?@H @7 2?J E62496C H9@ 925 E@ FD6 E96 F?:@? E@ >2?286 2 =682= 32EE=6]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 }2E:@?2= t5F42E:@? pDD@4:2E:@? 2?5 p>6C:42? u656C2E:@? @7 %62496CD C6AC6D6?E >:==:@?D @7 65F42E@CD ?2E:@?H:56 2?5 2C6 2>@?8 E96 >@DE A@=:E:42==J 24E:G6 =23@C @C82?:K2E:@?D :? E96 4@F?ECJ] %96 }tp 92D 23@FE b >:==:@? >6>36CD[ H9:=6 E96 pu% C6AC6D6?ED C@F89=J `]g >:==:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? a_ad[ E96 }tp C646:G65 2=>@DE Sc__ >:==:@? :? >6>36CD9:A 5F6D[ 2?5 E96 pu% 8@E @G6C Saf_ >:==:@? :? 5F6D]k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQmkDEC@?8m%2IA2J6C\7F?565 5F6Dk^DEC@?8m k^9am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm&?:@? >6>36CD A2J >6>36CD9:A 5F6D G:2 A2JC@== 565F4E:@? 7C@> E2IA2J6C\7F?565 D2=2C:6D] |2?J 4C:E:4D @7 E62496C F?:@?D 2C8F6 E96D6 5F6D 2C6 4C:E:42= E2IA2J6C 5@==2CD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmu@C 6I2>A=6[ 7@C E96 r2=:7@C?:2 %62496C pDD@4:2E:@?[ H9:49 :D F?56C E96 }tp[ 5F6D 2C6 DA=:E :?E@ r%p 5F6D @7 Sghh 2??F2==J A6C >6>36C 7@C E96 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4E2]@C8^5@4F>6?E^4E2\5F6D\DECF4EFC6Qma_ae\af J62Ck^2mk^DEC@?8m 2?5 }tp 5F6D @7 Sabc] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? a_ad[ E96 }tp DA6?E 2 E@E2= @7 Sccg[`f`[`ha[ 244@C5:?8 E@ &?:@? u24ED[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E E92E 7@4FD6D @? EC2?DA2C6?4J 2?5 244@F?E23:=:EJ] pu% DA6?E 2 E@E2= @7 Safg[ae`[cb_] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 }tp DA6?E >@C6 E92? Sd` >:==:@? @? A@=:E:42= 24E:G:E:6D 2?5 =@33J:?8 :? a_ad[ 2?5 E96 pu% DA6?E >@C6 E92? Sc` >:==:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ &?:@? u24ED] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? 4@>A2C:D@?[ E96 ?2E:@?2= 2G6C286 D2=2CJ 7@C 2 AF3=:4 D49@@= E62496C :D Sfc[___[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }tp]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQms6A6?5:?8 @? E96 DE2E6 2?5 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E[ 2 8@@5 A@CE:@? @7 =@42= 3F586ED :D 2==@42E65 E@ E62496C A2J 2?5 36?67:ED] u@C 6I2>A=6[ E96 {@D p?86=6D &?:7:65 $49@@= s:DEC:4E[ E96 ?2E:@?VD D64@?5\=2C86DE D49@@= 5:DEC:4E[ 2==@42E65 hbT @7 :ED 3F586E E@ 6>A=@J66 D2=2C:6D[ H:E9 c_T @7 E96 3F586E 8@:?8 E@ E62496C A2J 2?5 36?67:ED] k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQmkDEC@?8mp5G@42E6 7@C V>6>36CD[ ?@E <:5DVk^DEC@?8mk^9am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp2C@? v2CE9 $>:E9[ 5:C64E@C @7 65F42E:@? C67@C> 2E E96 #62D@? u@F?52E:@?[ E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 E92E F?:@?DV :?7=F6?46 6IE6?5D H6== 36J@?5 4@?EC24E ?68@E:2E:@?D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%62496C F?:@? :?7=F6?46 8@6D H6== 36J@?5 >@?6J[ 6DA64:2==J 2E E96 =@42= =6G6= H:E9 D49@@= 3@2C5 C246D[” $>:E9 D2:5] “&=E:>2E6=J[ E96 ;@3 @7 E62496CD’ F?:@?D :D E@ 25G@42E6 7@C E96:C >6>36CD[ ?@E <:5D] $@>6E:>6D E96D6 :?E6C6DED 2=:8?[ 3FE @7E6? E96J 5@?’E]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 }tp 92D E2<6? AF3=:4 A@D:E:@?D DF49 2D 4C:E:4:D> @7 &]$] x>>:8C2E:@? 2?5 rFDE@>D t?7@C46>6?E] %96 }tp AC@G:565 S`]f >:==:@? :? 7F?5:?8 E@ 2 |2J s2J a_ae EC2:?:?8 E@@=<:E E92E :?4=F56D 2?E:\xrt >6DD28:?8[ %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 AC6G:@FD=J kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^?2E:@?2=^2CE:4=60g4ecdfdc\chhc\cdba\ggg_\2h4cb3h5fd_2]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6A@CE65]k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm#FDEJ qC@H?[ 5:C64E@C @7 DA64:2= AC@;64ED 2E E96 uC665@> u@F?52E:@?[ H9:49 25G@42E6D 282:?DE AF3=:4\D64E@C F?:@?D[ E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 E92E F?:@?D 8:G6 >@?6J E@ H92E E96J 2=:8? H:E9]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“x D66 E96> ?@E C62==J 8:G:?8 >@?6J E@ A6@A=6 E92E 2C6 ?@E 8@??2 36 A6C764E=J 2=:8?65 H:E9 E96>[” qC@H? E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6] “xEVD E@ AFD9 6:E96C 2 C25:42= 286?52 @C E@ 96=A E96:C @H? 3@EE@> =:?6]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? y2?F2CJ[ %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 2EE6?565 2 G:CEF2= 4@?76C6?46 9@DE65 3J $F?C:D6 |@G6>6?E[ 2 A@=:E:42= 24E:@? @C82?:K2E:@?[ E:E=65 Q#@25>2A E@ !@=:E:42= #6G@=FE:@?[Q H96C6 &]$] #6A] #@ z92??2[ s\r2=:7@C?:2[ 2?5 }tp !C6D:56?E #636442 !C:?8=6 E2=<65 23@FE E96 4@?EC@G6CDJ DFCC@F?5:?8 &]$] x>>:8C2E:@? 2?5 rFDE@>D t?7@C46>6?E :? |:??6D@E2 2?5 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“xE :D ?@ DFCAC:D6 E92E E96 }tp :D E9:D 25>:?:DEC2E:@?VD E@A E2C86E] s:4E2E@CD 2=H2JD 4@>6 7@C 65F42E@CD 3642FD6 H6 E6249 E96 49:=5C6? 9@H E@ E9:?< 7@C E96>D6=G6D … ,%.9:D 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :D FD:?8 xrt E@ 3C:?8 762C 2?5 EC2F>2 :?E@ @FC D49@@=D[” !C:?8=6 D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 4@?76C6?46] k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQmkDEC@?8mx>A6249>6?E 2?5 xrtk^DEC@?8mk^9am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 pu% 92D 2=D@ E2<6? A@=:E:42= DE2?46D @? G2C:@FD :DDF6D] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmxED a_ae A@=:4J 92?53@@< :?4=F56D A@D:E:@?D 255C6DD:?8 E96 D6A2C2E:@? @7 49FC49 2?5 DE2E6 :? 65F42E:@?[ 4FED E@ E96 >:=:E2CJ 3F586E 2?5 E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm~?6 C6D@=FE:@? 42==D 7@C E96 :>A6249>6?E[ 4@?G:4E:@? 2?5 C6>@G2= @7 E96 AC6D:56?E]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“(wt#tp$[ s@?2=5 %CF>A’D 72D4:DE E2<6@G6C @7 p>6C:42? 56>@4C24J :D C62= — :?4=F5:?8 E96 E9C62E E@ E96 C:89E E@ AF3=:4 65F42E:@? — 3FE E96 >2DD >@G6>6?E E@ 5676?5 56>@4C24J 2?5 DE@A E96 C:D6 @7 72D4:D> :D C62= E@@[Q E96 C6D@=FE:@? C625D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“#t$~{'ts[ E92E E96 pu% H:== 42== 7@C E96 :>A6249>6?E[ 4@?G:4E:@? 2?5 C6>@G2= @7 s@?2=5 %CF>A 7C@> E96 &]$] AC6D:56?4J 2D D@@? 2D A@DD:3=6]” k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“#t$~{'ts[ E92E E96 pu% H:== 7:89E 324< 282:?DE E96 492@D E92E E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :D 4C62E:?8[ 2?5 E96 pu% H:== 7:89E 7@CH2C5 3J 3F:=5:?8 2 >@G6>6?E H:E9 E96 >6>36CD[ DEF56?ED[ @E96C H@C<6CD[ 2?5 @FC 4@>>F?:E:6D E@ 7:89E 7@C 2 DEC@?86C 56>@4C24J 2?5 3F:=5 2 36EE6C 7FEFC6 7@C 2==]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmrC:E:4D D2J DF49 A@D:E:@?D 8@ 36J@?5 EC25:E:@?2= F?:@? C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmQ%96 ;@3 @7 2 F?:@? FD65 E@ 36 2?5 D9@F=5 36 E@ C6AC6D6?E E96 :?E6C6DED @7 :ED >6>36CD 2D E96J C6=2E6 E@ E96 H@C<A=246[” |:<2 w24<?6C[ C6D62C49 5:C64E@C 2E E96 }@CE9 p>6C:42? '2=F6D x?DE:EFE6[ E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmw24<?6C D2:5 E96 }tp 2?5 pu% 92G6 6>3C2465 H92E D96 56D4C:365 2D “D@4:2= ;FDE:46 F?:@?:D>[” 2C8F:?8 E92E E96 2AAC@249 2DDF>6D >6>36CD D92C6 E96 D2>6 A@=:E:42= G:6HD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“xE :D 2 H9@==J :?2AAC@AC:2E6 FD6 @7 F?:@? C6D@FC46D 2?5 2 56C6=:4E:@? @7 E96 F?:@?VD 5FEJ[” w24<?6C 25565]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmr=:77 $>:E9[ 8@G6C?>6?E 2772:CD 5:C64E@C 2E E96 }@CE9 p>6C:42? '2=F6D x?DE:EFE6[ D2:5 F?:@?D 92G6 2 =68:E:>2E6 C@=6 :? 65F42E:@? A@=:4J 3FE C:D< =@D:?8 4C65:3:=:EJ H96? E96J >@G6 :?E@ :DDF6D 72C C6>@G65 7C@> E96:C 4@C6 >:DD:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“xEVD A6C764E=J 2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C F?:@?D E@ 92G6 @A:?:@?D @? :DDF6D 4=@D6=J C6=2E65 E@ 65F42E:@?[” $>:E9 E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6] “qFE H96? 2 F?:@?[ @C 2?J @E96C 6?E:EJ[ DE6AD H:=5=J @FED:56 :ED 2C62 @7 6IA6CE:D6[ ?@E @?=J 5@6D :E AC@>@E6 :562D E92E :E D9@F=5?VE[ 3FE :E 4C62E6D 5:DECFDE H96? E96J DA62< @FE @? :DDF6D E96J ECF=J 2C6 6IA6CED @?]”k^Am
kAm%96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 C624965 @FE E@ E96 }tp[ r%p 2?5 pu% >F=E:A=6 E:>6D 7@C 4@>>6?ED 3FE 5:5 ?@E C646:G6 2 C6DA@?D6]k^Am
