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NEA Membership Numbers Show Continued Decline
posted by: Garry | July 16, 2013, 04:20 PM   

Following an eventful 2013 annual conference, the NEA's official membership numbers have hit the internet. According to the Education Intelligence Agency, the NEA has lost over 9% of its members nationwide. The 2011-12 school year absorbed the sharpest decline, with almost 104,000 fewer members in the ranks from the previous year. However, the losses continued by more than 41,000 members in the just-concluded 2012-13 school year.


The biggest losses were found in Arizona, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, with membership declines of more than 20% respectively. Specifically, Arizona's NEA affiliate has shrunk by almost 50% since 2009.

In the wake of Wisconsin's legislation ending forced unionism for teachers, it is no surprise that union membership in Wisconsin has declined. Free to make decisions that match their own budgets and values, hundreds of Wisconsin teachers have chosen AAE - a professional association that supports both teachers and students.

Additionally, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, DC, and Utah have seen significant decreases in union membership.

Michigan and Wisconsin numbers will continue to drop as monopoly bargaining contracts expire, and teachers are free to seek an association that best meets their needs.

Due to these dramatic decreases in membership, the NEA recently announced their decision to raise their membership dues by $6 per person. Clearly, these union leaders are fighting to combat membership losses, and the hard-working teacher is left with bill.

What do you think about these dramatic decreases?
Comment below.

 

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