It has been a busy few months for AAE and our state affiliates. More than 12 states are in various stages of advancing laws that deal with curbing union power, advancing education reform, and ending forced unionism. The unions have proved that regardless of whether or not they win battles in the legislature, they will take the fight to the courts and potential ballot initiatives in the next election cycle.   Continue Reading...

One would assume that the National Education Association, the country's largest teachers union, would have their hands full with the labor and education battles heating up all over the country, but they are once again meddling in partisan politics with lobbying Congress in support of banks and exorbitant debit card fees.   Continue Reading...

The fight in Wisconsin is far from over. Last week, Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi issued a temporary restraining order barring the new law until she can rule whether Republicans violated Wisconsin's open meetings law. While this is a setback for the Wisconsin legislation, other states are following Governor Walker's lead and are in various stages of pushing labor reform legislation.   Continue Reading...

The battle over state budgets and union power rages on as Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana lawmakers are in various stages of passing landmark legislation. Despite lingering protests, weeks of media coverage, attempted filibusters and walk-outs, experts are speculating that we could see concessions from both sides beginning this week.   Continue Reading...

With labor protests continuing in state capitals in Wisconsin and Ohio, many are wondering how the situation will resolve itself with either passed legislation or concessions. Today the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate passed a bill that would end forced unionism and make it illegal for public employees to engage in strikes. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin emergency legislation was enacted to fine senators for each day they boycott the budget vote.   Continue Reading...

For the past two weeks, Wisconsin union leaders and members have gathered steadily in Madison in hopes of pressuring lawmakers to drop a bill that would end forced unionism and aims to close monumental budget shortfalls. With no legislative progress, the war of words is heating up in Wisconsin as some experts are calling this the "death knell" of big labor --yielding commentary by President Obama.   Continue Reading...

This weekend in Wisconsin and state capitals all over the country, union leaders and members gathered together to protest the various bills aimed at ending forced unionism and closing budget gaps. Despite the weeks of protests, news polls are shedding light on who the American people really support in this debate.   Continue Reading...

The labor battle continues to heat up all over the country as Wisconsin, Indiana, Tennessee, and Ohio lawmakers are in various stages of passing legislation that would end compulsory unionism and close budget shortfalls. Despite huge protests, media coverage, attempted filibusters and walk-outs, progress has been made in Wisconsin over the last few hours.   Continue Reading...

This week, Utah House Bill 183 cleared several legislative hurdles after years of union push back. The House advanced a bill Wednesday that would prohibit school districts from paying teachers on leave from the classroom for union duties as well as prohibit school district money contributing to union leader salaries.   Continue Reading...

AAE Executive Director Gary Beckner op-ed as featured on the Washington Times website:   Continue Reading...

Listen Live to AAEAAE Director of Education Policy and 1993 National Teacher of the Year Tracey Bailey will be discussing Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and the showdown between public employee unions and GOP governors during several radio interviews, listen via the streaming links below:   Continue Reading...

As thousands still march in Madison, Wisconsin, the battle for public-sector forced unionism continues. Democratic state legislators have refused to return to the state for a vote and thousands of public employees continue to miss work for protests. While the battle rages on in Wisconsin, both Ohio and Indiana are experiencing similar protests over union-crippling legislation.   Continue Reading...

Schools in Wisconsin are closed, Democratic legislators left the state in protest, and tens of thousands have converged at the state house. This has been the scene for the last few days in a state where Republican Governor Scott Walker has proposed legislation to close a budget shortfall and curb collective bargaining. The protests, uproar, and fallout have gained national attention and have even warranted comment from President Obama.   Continue Reading...

A recent report by the Education Intelligence Agency sheds light on the financial disclosures of the American Federation of Teachers in the 2009-2010 fiscal year. The analysis reveals that the AFT spent $2.6 million of member dues on a wide array of left-leaning advocacy groups, charities, and big labor organizations.   Continue Reading...

Due to some recent landmark legislation, Alabama teachers are finding themselves at a crossroads with their local union, the Alabama Education Association, an affiliate of the NEA. Recently, the Alabama Legislature passed Senate Bill 2. This measure prohibits the AEA from using payroll deductions to support political activity. This legislation is a direct blow to the union machine and the perfect opportunity for Alabama teachers to evaluate their membership and consider alternatives.   Continue Reading...

With only a few days until the mid-term elections, accusations of voter fraud and bribery have been all over the news. While these sensationalized stories are hot news-grabbing headlines, the real facts about campaign contributions are often overlooked.   Continue Reading...

An Ohio high school teacher recently wrote a letter to the editor regarding her strange connection to several political attack advertisements targeting her husband, a candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives. Jade Thompson belongs to the Ohio Education Association, an organization that is using Jade's own member dues—which she is forced to pay by law—to fund partisan politics.   Continue Reading...

Question: What do the American Federation of Teachers, the Communist Party USA, and the Freedom Socialist Party have in common?Answer: They marched side-by-side last weekend at a rally, "One Nation Working Together," in Washington, D.C.   Continue Reading...

We are about a month away from the November mid-term elections and the coverage is heating up. It's clear that teachers' unions are playing a strong role in state elections this fall, providing candidates all over the country with campaign support, endorsements, and most importantly, millions and millions of dollars in campaign contributions.   Continue Reading...

Earlier this week the Massachusetts legislature approved an amendment to save retired USMC Maj. Stephen Godin's job. The measure, which had been defeated by Democrats the week before, exempts public school JROTC teachers, like Maj. Godin, from having to pay union dues.  Continue Reading...