NJEA, advocacy group spar over Parsippany union dues

The New Jersey Education Association accused a national conservative advocacy group of playing politics with a letter sent to Parsippany public school teachers informing them of their right to opt out of the portion of their union dues that go to funding the NJEA's political campaign donations and lobbying efforts.

Americans for Prosperity, frequently associated with the so-called Tea Party movement and which operates an associated AFP Foundation office and community center in Boonton, also created a social-media campaign to launch their new "Know Your Rights" initiative in concert with National Employees Freedom Week.

The campaign also included a similar letter to the public published in Friday's Daily Record. Another AFP letter regarding NJEA union dues was mailed to members of the New Jersey Legislature.

“Although New Jersey is not a right-to-work state, workers are still entitled to opt-out of certain union dues. However, many union members are unaware of their right to do so,” AFP New Jersey Director Erica Jedynak wrote in a statement announcing the "Know Your Rights initiative. “AFP wants union members to know they have a choice. If they do not support the political activities of the union, they have a right to opt-out by becoming an agency fee payer.”

“NJEA is very proud of its proven track record of advocacy for our members and the students and communities they serve," NJEA Associate Director of Communications Kathryn Coulibaly wrote to the Daily Record in response to the AFP letters. "Clearly, this is an organization with an obvious agenda: gut the rights of working men and women by any means necessary."

"The New Jersey Education Association spends about 15 to 20 percent of its nearly 200,000 members’ dues on political activities, such as campaign donations and lobbying," Jedynak wrote in the letter to the Daily Record. "But while union leadership may support the causes and politicians these donations benefit, not all members may agree. This violates the First Amendment, which protects the free speech and free association of everyone, union member or not."

"Have you ever looked at your union dues and thought it was a lot of money? Do you wonder what you get for that amount? Are you uncomfortable supporting certain political ideologies that your union supports? You may live in New Jersey, but you still have options to reduce the costs associated with union membership and be freed from supporting the union political agenda," Jedynak wrote in the letter sent to teachers.

That letter also outlines how teachers can opt out of the payments, stating that annual NJEA membership fees amount to $840.

“Americans for Prosperity is an anti-union organization funded by Charles and David Koch, billionaires who have spent a fortune to support political candidates and organizations in an attempt to privatize public education, Social Security, and Medicare, and who oppose government regulation, especially environmental protections," Coulibaly responded. “Americans for Prosperity played a major role in Wisconsin’s collective bargaining legislation that limited the rights of employees to negotiate. They also financed Michigan’s 'right to work for less money' campaign."

David Koch serves as chairman of the AFP Foundation board of directors. Koch and his brother, who both are listed among the richest individuals in the United States, are well-known in political circles for funding and advocating conservative causes including political campaigns, although they have notably withheld endorsements and financial support for Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

The AFP Foundation mission statement says the nonprofit group "is dedicated to educating and training citizens to be courageous advocates for the ideas, principles, and policies of a free society."

"Why does the NJEA feel so threatened by the basic concepts of freedom of choice and freedom of association?" AFP Communications Director Mike Proto responded to the NJEA comments. "All we ask is that workers have a choice of whether or not to support the union agenda. If the union is indeed serving members as well as they claim, they should have no fear of having to earn dues, the same way every other private organization does. If the union were confident in its own ability to retain teachers and their political dues, they would be open about members' rights to opt out and unafraid of reforms that challenge the status quo that is failing our children and bankrupting our state."

Proto also responded to the NJEA remarks about AFP initiatives in Wisconsin and Michigan.

"Our counterparts in Michigan and Wisconsin were proud to champion workers' rights in those states, just as we are in New Jersey," Proto said. "Union leadership is looking out foremost for themselves before members, students, or taxpayers. That is why they oppose commonsense reforms like right-to-work, school choice, and reforms to address the state's $225 billion unfunded pension and health benefits liability."

"NJEA is an open, democratic organization," Coulibaly wrote. "We encourage our members to be actively engaged in their association, and we will continue to do so.”

The Parsippany-Troy Hills School District did not respond to a request for comment.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.