To opt out of AFT Georgia dues:
- Enter your information into the form below and click “submit.”
- On the resulting page, click the link to open your customized form. You will also receive an email with a link to your form.
- Print the form. If you check the appropriate box about needing a printed version, we’ll mail you a copy of the form.
- Sign and date the form.
- Mail the completed form to the address at the top of the form. We highly recommend sending it via certified mail.
*Please note: If you are currently paying AFT Georgia dues via automatic credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments from your bank, you should also contact your bank directly to stop the payments.
The Georgia Federation of Teachers (or “AFT Georgia”) is a union representing hundreds of teachers and other public school employees in Georgia.
Those who object to paying AFT Georgia dues should know that Georgia law has long protected public employees from being forced to financially support a union against their will. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Janus v. AFSCME reaffirmed that all public employees have a constitutional right to choose for themselves whether to pay any union dues or fees.
You can opt out of AFT Georgia dues by filling out the form above, printing it and mailing it to the union.
*Please note: If you are currently paying AFT Georgia dues via automatic credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments from your bank, you should also contact your bank directly to stop the payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
The process for ending dues payments to AFT Georgia may differ depending on which method of payment you are currently using. For example, if you are currently paying AFT Georgia dues via automatic credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments from your bank, you should be able to contact your bank directly to stop the payments – you do not need to wait for AFT Georgia to confirm receipt of your opt-out request.
However, it’s a good idea to send your opt-out form to the union anyway. You should receive some acknowledgement of your request from AFT Georgia within a few weeks.
According to federal filings from 2018, AFT Georgia dues can be as high as $582 per year. However, AFT Georgia members may also pay up to $235 in annual dues to the national AFT, meaning the total amount of dues paid to all levels of the union could be as high as $816 per year..
No. Your employer – not the union – is responsible for the terms and conditions of your employment. Your compensation, health benefits, retirement, and anything else provided by the district will remain unchanged if you opt out of AFT Georgia.
While the terms of the contract will still govern your employment, union officials commonly prohibit nonmembers from participating in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings, voting for union officers or participating in contract ratification votes. You’ll also be ineligible for any special “members only” benefits, such as discounts on additional insurance, scholarship programs, or deals the union has arranged with businesses. You may no longer receive the union newsletter or similar publications.
People have many reasons for not wanting to support the union. Some simply do not believe the services the union provides are worth the dues it charges. Others may find the union’s one-size-fits-all agenda does not serve them well. Many find the union’s political activity and use of dues to advance partisan causes, candidates and ideology distasteful. Still others believe that union officials are corrupt and unaccountable to their membership.
Sometimes people have a faith-based objection to unions’ expenditures. To learn more about some of the major public unions’ expenditures in light of common faith beliefs, click here.
AFT Georgia is a private organization with minimal obligations to disclose financial information to members.
However, the IRS requires unions’ 990 tax return to be a public document, and these can be found online at sites like this. AFT Georgia reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 58-1267656. Here is their most recent filing.
Additionally, a portion of your local dues typically fund several related organizations, such as state and national affiliates. AFT Georgia is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which is required to file annual financial reports with the U.S. Department of Labor. The most recent report filed by AFT is available here.