They fight under the guise of “free speech,” “worker rights” and “workplace freedom.”
They’re deep-pocketed networks of ultra-conservatives and vested interests that for decades have bankrolled lawsuits to tilt the economic playing field even more to their advantage.
The June 27, 2018, U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME is the latest strategy to weaken pubic-sector unions.
Within minutes of the Janus ruling, online communications were directed at educators in New Jersey and across the country encouraging us to drop our union membership. Billions are being spent to scam and mislead us into leaving our union.
Many of the initial communications urging members to drop out of their union came from the Michigan-based Mackinac Center for Public Policy. The Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is a major a contributor to the Center. Their goal is to privatize public education through the proliferation of charter schools and the expansion of state and national voucher programs, while also weakening your local association and the NJEA.
In addition, the Mackinac Center’s parent organization is the State Policy Network (SPN), a nationwide umbrella organization for a consortium of ultra-conservative think tanks that focus on state-level policy. Together, they are using the Janus decision to entice union members to leave the union and join a look-alike organization seemingly offering the same benefits at a lower cost — while still receiving all the contractual benefits of being an NJEA member.
DON’T FALL FOR A CHEAP IMITATION
Protect your students. Protect your contract. Protect your profession.
Our values are being threatened by the rich and powerful. Don’t let them trick you into giving up your rights!
Stand with us to keep our union strong and protect our rights as school employees!