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2 CEA ADVISOR SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2018

Dear Colleague, With a new school year around the corner, we are facing many challenges and opportunities—some familiar, and some new. This year we are dealing with historic changes and serious threats to the future direction of public education and our union. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against us in the Janus v. AFSCME case, a lawsuit designed to strip teachers and other union members of our freedom and silence our collective voice on behalf of our students, public education, and our profession. Together, we must stand strong and not allow the court’s ruling to jeopardize students and the quality of education. That means collaborating, advocating, organizing, and being full members of the Association to support our mission and vision of the future—for our students and our profession. Your CEA membership comes with a guarantee that you are never alone. When you stand together with your colleagues, you have the leverage to make a positive difference for public education and your profession. Now more than ever, it is critical to join together with CEA in advocating for issues that are important to all of us, including • Keeping the promise of a secure retirement and pension funding for every teacher • Advancing competitive salaries and benefits • Ensuring education funding for students in every community across the state • Elevating the teaching profession When we stand with a unified voice, we all win, because we are stronger together. Together we defend our rights and push back against federal, state-level, and local attacks on public education and

the teaching profession. We will continue to support our fundamental mission to promote student-centered priorities that reflect our passion and dedication to teaching. Your membership in CEA enables you to tap into a wide range of professional opportunities, including free, timely professional development and networking; access to statewide job postings, contract language, and other members-only information on our website; the legal expertise to answer your questions on everything from pensions and benefits to your rights in the classroom; and the backing of a powerful and knowledgeable legal team when and if you need them.

Jeff Leake CEA President

As a CEA member, you also have influence and buying power, with access to discounts on hundreds of products and services that you use every day, including CEA-endorsed auto and home insurance. We look forward to continuing to support and advocate for you, and I encourage you to take full advantage of all your CEA membership has to offer. Sincerely,

Jeff Leake, CEA President

THE UNION PAY ADVANTAGE STRONG UNIONS VS. WEAK UNIONS

The top average teacher salaries in the U.S. are all in states with strong unions: New York...................... $79,152 California.................... $77,179 Massachusetts............ $76,981 Washington, D.C......... $75,810 Connecticut................. $72,013 New Jersey................... $69,330 Alaska........................... $67,443 Maryland...................... $66,456 Rhode Island............... $66,197 Pennsylvania............... $65,151

Nationally, workers see a significant financial boost as members of a labor union. The states with the highest teacher salaries are all states with strong unions. In states with declining union membership, the average teacher salary is $50,301—about $8,000 less than the U.S. average and $22,000 less than the Connecticut average. Employees in states with weaker unions are also less likely to have health benefits or pensions through their employer.

Teacher salaries are $22,000 higher in Connecticut than in states with weak unions.

NY $79,152

MA $76,981

DC $75,810

PA $65,151

RI $66,197

TOP STATES FOR TEACHERS’ SALARIES

CT $72,013

MD $66,456

NJ $69,330

CA $77,179

AK $67,443

Special Issue • August 2018 Volume 60, Number 8 Published by CEA CEA Advisor

The CEA Advisor is mailed to all CEA members. Annual subscription price is $7.63 (included in membership dues and available only as part of membership). Institutional subscription price: $25.00. Advertising in the CEA Advisor is screened, but the publishing of any advertisement does not imply CEA endorsement of the product, service, or views expressed. CEA Advisor UPS 0129-220 (ISSN 0007-8050) is published in August (twice), October/ November, December/January, February/March, April, May/June, and summer (online) by the Connecticut Education Association, Capitol Place, Suite 500, 21 Oak Street, Hartford, CT 06106-8001, 860-525-5641. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, Connecticut. Postmaster: Send address changes to CEA Advisor , Connecticut Education Association, Capitol Place, Suite 500, 21 Oak Street, Hartford, CT 06106-8001

CEA Advisor Staff Nancy Andrews..............Communications Director Lesia Winiarskyj..............................Managing Editor Sandra Cassineri............................ Graphic Designer Laurel Killough...................New Media Coordinator

Production date: 8-2-18