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Press Release
National Employee Freedom Week: Association of American Educators Spreads the Word about Teacher Freedom of Choice Alexandria, VA – Today, the Association of American Educators (AAE) joins with over 80 partner organizations in more than 30 states across the nation to celebrate National Employee Freedom Week (NEFW), an annual grassroots campaign dedicated to promoting employee rights of association. Co-created by the Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI), NEFW is a national effort to inform union employees about the freedoms they have to opt out of union membership and let them make the decision that's best for them. To celebrate, AAE is highlighting the results of a new coalition survey showcasing that nearly 30 percent of union members nationwide would opt out of union membership if they knew they could keep their job and not face penalties.
The Google Consumer Survey poll surveyed 300 union members nationwide and found that 28.7 percent of respondents answered “Yes” to the question, “If it were possible to opt out of membership in a labor union without losing your job or any other penalty, would you do it?” This finding, applied to the 14.8 million union members nationwide, suggests that over 4 million union members are interested in opting out of the union.
The NEFW coalition conducted additional state-specific surveys to test support for a new policy known as “Worker’s Choice,” a new proposal that would allow an employee to opt-out of the collective bargaining agreement and negotiate their own salary and benefits package.
"We are proud to be spearheading National Employee Freedom Week," stated AAE Chairman and President Gary Beckner. "Freedom of association is at the heart of why AAE was founded as a teacher labor union alternative. This new school year is the perfect opportunity for educators to make informed choices about association membership."
AAE and our state chapters have all endorsed this empowering week. In addition to educating union members about their rights, NEFW also helps them exercise these rights. The NEFW website features an interactive map that includes information on opt-out windows, sample opt-out letters, and information about union alternatives. Visit www.employeefreedomweek.com for more information. The Association of American Educators (AAE) is the largest national, non-union, professional educator's organization, advancing the profession by offering a modern approach to teacher representation and educational advocacy, as well as promoting professionalism, collaboration and excellence without a partisan agenda. AAE members are forward-thinking professionals who are committed to student-centered reform efforts including school/teacher choice, accountability and technology. AAE has members in all 50 states and welcomes professionals from all education entities. Membership is $16.50 per month which includes $2 million professional liability insurance, employment rights coverage, professional development resources as well as a host of other benefits. Visit aaeteachers.org for further information. |
