Union moves to limit First Amendment rights of teachers

By Evan Grossman

Three teachers who want more of a say in how their dues are spent say they are being bullied by Pennsylvania’s largest teachers union.   Jane Ladley, who is retired, Chris Meier and Linda Misja are fighting the Pennsylvania State Education Association in court because they say their First Amendment rights are trampled by the union’s policy of using member dues for political purposes.
The three registered for a religious exemption to prevent their money from going to organizations like Planned Parenthood, which the union supports.

But in an ongoing battle with the union, the PSEA has been withholding their money for years while rejecting the charities they’ve chosen to support. The money has been held in escrow until the sides can come to an agreement. 

Ladley, Meier and Misja are fighting the union in court for more control over where their money goes. But the PSEA recently introduced a new policy that forces them and other religious objectors to accept binding arbitration to resolve such disagreements, with no appeal. If the teachers refuse to go along, the union says it will give their money to a charity chosen solely by the PSEA.

“The PSEA wants to play the game but only if the deck is stacked in its favor,”......To Read More....

My Take - Where did the idea originate unions were supposed to collect money from it's members for anything except representation of it's members regarding wages, benefits and condidtions?  No money should be allowed to be confiscated by these fellow travelers for any reason other than that.