To opt out of WEAC 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.
- Provide a copy to your employer’s payroll officer and keep a copy for your files.
The Wisconsin Education Association Council is a statewide public-sector labor union representing a broad range of education professionals in Wisconsin.
For years, public employees in Wisconsin have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like WEAC to take their members for granted. However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Janus v. AFSCME (2018), public employees can no longer be required to financially support a labor union against their will.
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.
You can opt out of WEAC dues by filling out the form above, printing it and mailing it to the union.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 your union.
Opting out is your constitutional right. However, unions like WEAC 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.
WEAC does not publicly disclose its dues amount, but dues can typically range from several hundred to over $1,100 per year.
The short answers is, yes. WEAC 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.
In exchange for the monopoly on this particular service, WEAC is legally obligated to represent all employees in the workplace. This includes those who choose not to join the union as members, or have stopped paying union dues.
The collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the union and your employer will continue to set the terms and conditions of your employment and the union will continue to represent you in grievances, contract enforcement, discipline assistance or other proceedings governed by the collective bargaining agreement.
The contract terms will continue to apply to your job, however, nonmembers are typically barred by union leaders from taking part in internal union matters – such as attending meetings, casting votes for union leadership, or participating in contract ratification votes. You also won’t be eligible for exclusive “members-only” perks, which can include things like extra insurance discounts, scholarships programs, or promotional offers arranged by the union with outside companies. Additionally, you may stop receiving union publications, like union newsletters or other 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—whether because they are new to the profession, have a specialty that is not acknowledged in bargaining, or believe that their effectiveness is undercompensated. Some resent the union’s role in enabling and defending underperforming employees. 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.
Unions representing public employees are not governed by the usual consumer protection or anti-trust laws, so abuses are common. Unions can charge whatever they wish. They can spend dues money on anything they want. Often, they do not have to disclose how dues money is spent to members. They can speak for employees without consulting or informing them. They can injure some members’ interests while advancing the interests of others. Unions even have the ability to prevent employees from getting help in their workplace from other sources. They are not governed by any obligation to provide quality service, and almost never have to seek approval of the people they represent in an election to continue as the exclusive representative.
Wisconsin Education Association Council
WEAC collected $5,608,533 in dues and fees from its members in fiscal year 2024, according to 990 reports the union is required to file with the IRS.
In fiscal year 2024:
- $362,616 was spent on airfare, hotels, and travel.
- $353,890 was spent on office expenses.
- $1,099,514 was spent on compensation of current officers, directors, trustees, and key employees.
- $768,356 was spent beyond the total revenue, resulting in a deficit for WEAC for the second year in a row.
As of 2024, WEAC’s net assets or fund balances totaled $7,787,903.
WEAC’s most recent IRS 990 reports are available here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020.
WEAC reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 39-1169160
National Education Association
According to federal filings that the union is required to submit to the Department of Labor, NEA headquarters collected over $381 million from local affiliates through member dues in 2024.
In 2024 alone:
- $40.4 million was spent by NEA HQ on divisive political candidates, causes, and lobbying.
- $16.2 million was paid or contributed to largely ideologically driven organizations.
- $18.4 million was spent on conferences, events, and catering throughout the year.
- $13.7 million was spent on airfare, hotels, and travel. This figure includes a total amount of $1,117,652 charged at Caesar’s resort collection in Las Vegas, NV.
NEA HQ paid 693 employees in 2024, with 419 receiving six-figure salaries. NEA HQ’s President, Rebecca Pringle, was paid $481,161.
As of 2024, NEA HQ has accumulated a cash stockpile of $146,331,184.
NEA HQ’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020.