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SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2018 CEA ADVISOR 3

CEA STANDS STRONG IN THE WAKE OF JANUS V. AFSCME Union, members refuse to let Supreme Court decision erode teachers’ rights

In its 5-4 decision in Janus v. AFSCME , the U.S. Supreme Court struck down nearly four decades of precedent and legal protections established by the unanimous decision in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education . Heavily funded by corporate anti-union groups, the Janus case was an attempt to suppress teachers from speaking out for their rights and the needs of their students. “ Janus was a ploy to take away the freedom educators have to speak with a unified voice about their workplace, their profession, and the well-being of their students,” says CEA President Jeff Leake. “The corporate funders behind this case have been seeking to lower workers’ pay, reduce or eliminate pensions and benefits, and make sure that power remains in the hands of the wealthy, not the workers. Essentially this lawsuit was designed to take away men’s and women’s rights to collectively bargain for fair salaries, benefits, and working conditions; to be treated as professionals; and to

“Teachers need a voice inside and outside the classroom to ensure the best learning and working conditions in our public schools,” Leake explains. “Unions provide that collective voice—something that the corporate backers behind Janus are hoping to silence.” In fact, prior to the Janus decision, states like Arizona and Wisconsin had already begun silencing teachers’ voices. Many teachers were tricked or persuaded to leave their union, and immediately after, salaries and benefits were cut, working conditions eroded, class sizes grew, and outcomes for students deteriorated. We can’t let that happen

retire with dignity.” While the Court’s ruling has the power to strip teachers of their rights, it doesn’t have to, says Leake—as long as teachers stand with their union. “The outcome of this case is no match for the collective power of teachers.” He adds, “When you stand with your state and local associations, those kinds of numbers and that kind of influence enable your union to fight back in the war against public education—a well-coordinated attempt by corporate interests to privatize schools; strip teachers of their pensions, their voice, and their professional-level salaries; and bring about the kinds of conditions teachers now face in Michigan and other states. What’s at stake? Janus v. AFSCME revolved around the issue of whether workers who don’t belong to their union should benefit from the wages, benefits, and protections negotiated by the union. The case was funded by corporate billionaires and special interest groups who see

What happens next? If you are a CEA member, you will remain a member. You’ll still receive all of the union benefits you have enjoyed over the years. If you were an agency fee member, that arrangement ended with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Janus case. Agency fee members are now nonmembers, only covered by the specific terms of the collective bargaining agreements, and are no longer eligible for benefits of CEA membership, including • Legal services for DCF investigations, terminations, nonrenewal hearings, workers’ comp, unemployment, and more • Professional development, training, and workshops • Retirement planning • Advice on retirement and certification • Insurance coverage, including complimentary life insurance • Member discounts through CEA and NEA Member Benefits • Voting rights in union elections and contract ratification votes • Membership and leadership positions in CEA commissions and committees If you are a former agency fee payer, you may still become a member of CEA, receive all the benefits of membership, and ensure that your union remains a strong voice for your rights. Visit cea.org or call 1-800-842-4316. in Connecticut. “Our teachers feel strongly about their union, and they’ve witnessed— through the Red for Ed movement and their own personal experiences—what it’s like working in states where unions have been weakened,” says Leake. “They understand the consequences and the need to stand with their Association in spite of Janus , and maybe even because of Janus —because they know that we are stronger together.”

unions and workers’ rights as standing in the way of their profits. The fewer individuals who belong to unions, the easier it is to tear unions down.

Don’t let Connecticut become the next Michigan Teachers in Michigan no longer have traditional pensions. Thanks to funding from Betsy DeVos, the Koch brothers, and other corporate billionaires, the Mackinac Center stripped Michigan teachers of their rights and benefits, eliminating teacher pensions and reducing salaries and benefits. Now, they want to do the same to you and your Connecticut colleagues. And they are asking for your permission. Many Connecticut teachers have received friendly- sounding emails from groups like the Mackinac groups are funded by powerful corporate interests, including the Koch brothers, Betsy DeVos, and other billionaires interested in dismantling teachers unions and privatizing public schools. They are anything but friendly to teachers and public education. They will try to

Center encouraging them to explore other options to union membership. The emails include hotlines and links to websites “for more information.” Don’t be fooled by anti-union groups, like the Mackinac Center or the Yankee Institute. These

convince you to leave your union. Don’t fall for their message that you don’t need a strong union behind you. You do.

CEA IS HERE FOR YOU. WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.

HOWTO RESPOND TOANTI-TEACHER GROUPS Connecticut teachers are appalled that anti-public education groups like the Mackinac Center, Yankee Institute, and others are reaching out with friendly-sounding emails encouraging them to drop their union membership. These are bad apples, and teachers are biting back. Here is how some of them are responding.

Unsubscribe Anti-public education group

Please take me off your list. I categorically disagree with your organization. You oppose everything I believe in as a public school educator, and you have done nothing to help students, teachers, or public education in Connecticut. Unsubscribe me from your list. Do not solicit me; do not sell my contact information or share it with any other group, organization, company, or association; and do NOT contact me again.

For a complete list of “bad apples,” check out our May/June CEA Advisor at cea.org/advisor/2018/may-jun .