As educators, we put students at the center of everything we do.
That’s why in August, the Seattle Education Association (SEA) voted to strike for the first time in more than 30 years.
The union was in the midst of a five-month long collective bargaining process focused not only on strengthening the profession for Seattle educators, but on finding ways the union contract could benefit students as well.
While issues such as special education caseload, office staff workload and competitive professional wages were at the forefront, student-centered issues such as recess, testing and disproportionate discipline also were major topics of the bargain.
Seattle educators took a stand, and students benefitted.
Increasingly, education unions are stepping up to advocate for public education reform. No longer can our opponents say that unions are getting in the way of efforts to improve public education. We are leading those efforts. SEA demonstrates that when educators are unified and strong, they can fight for, and win, the resources and support our students need to be successful.
As educators and union members, we believe in public education and the opportunity it provides for students, families and communities to have a better and brighter future.
Our union ensures we have a voice that speaks for us and the students we serve so they have access to the education and opportunities they deserve.
Educators are on the front lines in our schools, teaching in classrooms, driving buses, preparing meals and providing the best we can for every student. We need to be heard on issues such as class size, support services, prep time, academic freedom and much more.
We also must be allowed to continue to advocate for ourselves as professionals who deserve professional pay, adequate health care and professional development that is relevant and valuable.
Yet our collective voice — our ability to be represented by a union — is under attack by wealthy corporate interests who want to swing the balance in their favor.
The Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association case before the U.S. Supreme Court jeopardizes much of the work educators (and other public-sector unions) have fought to accomplish. It is a direct attempt to weaken and eventually eliminate our right to be represented by a union.
Friedrichs, which is funded by the Koch brothers and other anti-union interests, seeks to ban a basic American principle: paying your fair share.
Friedrichs seeks to ban fair share, which means those who choose not to join the union would benefit from the union contract but would no longer have to contribute to the cost of bargaining and enforcing the contract. Yet unions would still be required to represent these free riders, which would weaken unions financially and dilute their collective strength.
The current system makes sense. No one is forced to join a union. Those who don’t wish to join the union have that right. But those non-members who benefit from the gains won through collective bargaining should pay their fair share for that representation. That’s the longstanding constitutional principle the Supreme Court has upheld many times, and it’s a matter of basic fairness.
Eliminating fair share is not about what is best for students or educators. It is about making it harder for educators’ voices to be heard locally, statewide and nationally. It is about dividing and conquering public schools, working people and our families.
We cannot let wealthy corporate interests weaken our ability to advocate for our profession and our students. The U.S. Supreme Court should reject this attempt to make it even harder for working people to come together, speak up for one another and get ahead.
Jenny Steele is a school counselor in Everett, and Michael Tamayo is an elementary school teacher and parent in Seattle. Both are members of the Washington Education Association and their local unions.