The Keystone Teachers Association Supports Paycheck Protection Legislation

3/5/2014 12:21:00 PM

Paycheck protection legislation, which would end the right of unions to have their dues deducted directly from employee paychecks is garnering increased attention in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. House Bill 1507 and Senate Bill 1034 allow government entities such as school districts and municipalities to save money by requiring unions to collect member dues and PAC donations directly from their members and not through employer paycheck withdrawal processes.

With regard to Pennsylvania’s public schools, district personnel are currently charged with deducting union dues, mandatory union fees and PAC campaign funds from employee paychecks and then forwarding these payments onto the private sector unions. For years proponents of paycheck protection have claimed for years that this policy is a direct conflict of interest. Countless states across the country already require unions to collect their dues independent of the school entities or have recently corrected this practice through their state legislatures.

Furthermore, school districts are forever plagued with financial shortages that leave them looking for ways to either increase their revenue—which is mostly generated through tax dollars and not easily increased—or they must cut expenses, student programs or positions.

These legislative proposals will not reduce the union’s income or their ability to support their members. The only adjustment is the cost savings to school districts and municipalities by removing the “middle man” in this dues collecting process, whereby saving these state and local run governmental entities valuable revenue that can be used more efficiently elsewhere.

The Keystone Teachers Association supports House Bill 1507 and Senate Bill 1034 since they allow school districts greater flexibility with their spending and frees up personnel and resources that can be redirected and used for the betterment of the students.