Teacher unions criticize bill as revenge for April walkout

A new bill introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature this week is being criticized as “revenge” for the teacher walkout and political pressure put on lawmakers.

The state’s teachers unions fear that if it becomes law, teachers could lose representation as membership wanes in the Oklahoma Education Association and American Federation of Teachers.

Ed Allen, president of the Oklahoma City AFT chapter, called it “union-busting” legislation.

The latest version of Senate Bill 1150 would prevent school districts from automatically deducting union dues from teacher paychecks. Instead of their pay being withheld, teachers would have to make arrangements with their union to make payments.

It would also require that a majority of educators in the district vote every five years to keep their collective bargaining unit. More than half of the eligible employees would have to cast a ballot for the union for it to gain recognition in the district. If not, the entire school district would lose union representation.

The author of the amendment, state Rep. Todd Russ, R-Cordell, said his bill is about teacher fairness.

“If a school has representation by the union, it allows the teachers to have the right to recertify that union at least every five years,” he said. “There’s teachers that have been there for 20, 30 years and

never had the opportunity to retain their union or change representation, or quit paying the dues and not have representation.”

Lawmakers have said they plan to finish their work this week, so any bill with a chance of becoming law has to move quickly.

“It seems like a revenge bill to come back after

teachers, after the walkout,” Allen said. “They’re only picking out dues deductions for those who collectively bargain. They seem to be saying it’s a cost to the district to deduct dues. If that’s true, it’s a cost to the district to deduct United Way or insurance products. From our perspective, it’s really unfair.”

Tens of thousands of teachers walked out of class for two weeks in April, with many of them keeping vigil at the Capitol

as lawmakers debated whether to enact more education funding.

Katherine Bishop, OEA vice president, called the legislation an attack on the association, teachers and support professionals.

“I’m beyond words. It’s a clear attack for teachers taking a stand and schools shutting down their doors and their voices being heard at the Capitol,” Bishop said. “Any association should feel threatened ...

any time laws are passed to diminish your voice.”

Allen said the ban on automatic deduction of dues payments would put an unfair burden on the AFT.

The organization would have to coordinate separately with every teacher, collect their banking or credit card information and hire someone to manage it, he said.

“I think it’s clear when you single the unions out, you’re going after us,” Allen said. “Only us.”