BEFORE YOU PROCEED – Please ensure you are a member of the OSEA (Oregon School Employees Association) as its name/acronym is similar to OEA (Oregon Education Association)
To opt out of OSEA dues:
- Enter your information into the form below and click “submit.”
- On the next 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 below, we’ll mail you a copy of the form.
- Sign and date the form.
- Mail the completed form to the OSEA at the address at the top of the form. We highly recommend sending it via certified mail.
For years, classified school employees in Oregon were required to pay union dues to the Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) as a condition of employment and the district automatically deducted union dues from workers’ paychecks.
However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Janus v. AFSCME (2018), classified school employees can now demand that the OSEA cease withholding union dues from their paychecks.
The court ruled that the mandatory dues requirement violated workers’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association, and that public employees have the right to choose for themselves whether to pay any union dues or fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should receive some acknowledgement of your request from the union within a few weeks.
In most cases, union dues are automatically deducted from employees’ paychecks. Monitor your paychecks to make sure the dues deductions stop. If the deductions continue for more than a couple pay periods after submitting your opt-out request, contact the union.
Finally, keep in mind:
Opting out is your constitutional right. However, unions like OSEA sometimes place restrictions on when they will accept opt-out requests. If the union refuses to immediately cancel dues deductions from your pay, ask them to provide you with written documentation and contact us for assistance.
According to federal filings, OSEA deducts 1.8% of its members’ wages in dues. In 2020, the average member paid the union $493.
Yes. The OSEA has arranged to be the “exclusive representative” of its bargaining units, meaning it is impossible for workers to get out of the terms of the contract, even if they cease paying dues.
No. Under state law, a union contract is binding on all employees in a bargaining unit, regardless of whether they are technically union “members.” Your compensation, benefits and conditions of employment are all set by the contract and will remain unchanged regardless of whether you are technically a union member and regardless of whether you choose to pay union dues.
The union has been recognized by the state as the “exclusive representative” of all members of the bargaining unit, whether formal union members or not. In return for the monopoly on this particular service, unions have a corresponding legal duty to provide fair representation.
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 likely be ineligible for certain “members only” benefits, such as discounts on additional insurance or deals the union has arranged with businesses, if any. You may no longer receive the union newsletter or similar publications.
OSEA
OSEA collected $7 million in dues and fees from its members in fiscal year 2020, according to reports the union must file with the U.S. Dept. of Labor.
In 2020 alone:
- $1.3 million went to affiliate organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers in Washington, D.C., to support its massive political, economic and social agenda.
- $296,202 was spent by OSEA on political activities and lobbying.
- $216,885 was spent on private attorneys.
- $230,865 was spent on hosting a union conference at a Red Lion hotel in Portland.
- $22,499 was spent on food and catering.
OSEA paid 50 officers and employees in 2020, three of whom were paid six figures. Executive director Rick Shidaker’s compensation was $135,743. OSEA currently holds $4.3 million in cash reserves, $1.1 million of which was accumulated just this past year.
OSEA’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.
A portion of the dues paid by OSEA members goes to support AFT-Oregon, a state affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers.
AFT-Oregon
AFT-Oregon collected $1.9 million from its member unions in the fiscal year 2020.
- $106,566 was spent on political activity and lobbying.
- $105,676 was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
- $39,476 was spent on private attorneys.
- $33,364 was spent on hotel venues for union meetings and events.
AFT-Oregon paid 24 officers and employees in 2020. President Jaime Rodriguez received $101,830. The union currently holds $3.5 million in cash reserves, $684,000 of which was stockpiled this past year.
AFT-Oregon’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.
A portion of the dues paid by OSEA members also goes to support the American Federation of Teachers’ national headquarters.
American Federation of Teachers
AFT collected $186 million from its members in fiscal year 2020.
- $31.3 million was spent by AFT on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying.
- $8.5 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
- $5.6 million was spent on airfare, hotels and travel for union staff. This included $197,000 spent on a conference at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. AFT also paid $85,000 for limousine and luxury chauffeuring services.
- $9.7 million was spent on private attorneys and consultants.
- $84,000 was spent on food and catering.
AFT paid 374 officers and employees in 2020, 235 of whom were paid six figures. AFT president Rhonda Weingarten received $453,000.
AFT’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.