Texas teacher union dues often support political agendas, but now there's an alternative

Texas teachers have advocates in the various unions and membership associations such as the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA), the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) and now the Innovative Teachers of Texas (ITT).

But what teachers who join advocacy groups may not know is where these organizations donate money in politics.

A report from the Texas Business Coalition, “How Texas Taxpayers Fund Unions,” reveals that four government entities collect and transfer dues to unions – including Texas' 1,217 school districts. Between 2010 and 2018, the state school districts collected $302.4 million for the top four teachers’ unions and associations alone.

The report also says that during the 2017-2018 election cycle, school districts contributed $74.1 million to unions that support a variety of political candidates and stances. School districts account for the highest amount of money collected and transferred to unions, according to the report.

The report indicates that union expenditures can play a role in the political process – but expenditures like contract bargaining, member communication and community organization are not reported on campaign finance disclosures.

The report says that “In the instances that union dollars end up being disclosed, they overwhelmingly favor Democratic candidates and causes.

“If the visible tip of the iceberg leans heavily Democrat, then it’s a fair estimation that the bulk of the hidden iceberg leans heavily [toward] Democrats as well."

As part of the research process, the Texas Business Coalition found figures for the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).  

Analyzing spending between 2000 and 2018, the report shows that 85.01 percent of funds went to Democratic causes and candidates ($13,103,57.26), compared to the funding for Republican causes and candidates ($2,310,482.54, or 14.99 percent). In the 2017-2018 Texas election cycle, funding was as follows: $2,127,391.40 (87.19 percent) to Democratic candidates and causes; $312,491.48 to Republican candidates and causes.

For teachers opposing the partisan slant of dues-funded union political contributions, there is another option. The Innovative Teachers of Texas organization is not a union, but a nonprofit corporation for professional educators, run by professional educators. It provides professional liability insurance, said  Jennifer Winter, an Austin resident, former Spanish teacher and executive director of ITT.

“Teachers now have another choice for professional liability insurance: A choice that does not fund a liberal agenda,” said Winter.

The ITT website explains how the organization originated:  

“Innovative Teachers of Texas (ITT) was created to give Texas teachers a choice in their professional representation so that they can receive excellent benefits and services they need without funding a political agenda with which they may disagree. ITT is organized as a Texas non-profit corporation created by teachers for teachers to provide research and dialogue among teaching professionals as well as legislative updates which affect the profession.”

To learn more about Innovating Teachers of Texas and to join, visit  https://www.ittexas.org/Join-us.