Peoria Education Association

AEA celebrated a victory in the courts today; U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow granted AEA’s request for a preliminary injunction of Senate Bill (SB) 1365.

Judge Snow found that, based on the evidence, SB 1365 violates the first amendment rights of educators in Arizona. AEA, with other public unions, filed a lawsuit contesting the constitutionality of SB 1365, which places restrictions on payroll deductions for labor unions, excluding public safety unions.

Today’s ruling is a victory for AEA and for free speech for Arizona’s teachers and education support professionals, and it sends a message that when the government tries to muzzle the voice of public school employees and violate their constitutional rights, the AEA will respond to protect and defend educators’ rights.

Though AEA has been confident in our success in this legal battle it does not change our current course of action. Our Association must remain free from legislative control by using an alternative method of dues collection for the current payroll deduction, such as Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

Legislators can very easily pass another version of SB 1365 that includes all unions in the next legislative session. AEA is determined to stand up for educators’ voices and not allow legislators to hold this threat over our organization. If you have not done so, I encourage you to contact AEA Membership Organizational Consultant Nell Pederson at nell.pederson@arizonaea.org or 602-264-1774 or 800-352-5411 x113 today to sign up for an alternative method of dues collection. If you have already flipped, thank you and please encourage your colleagues to follow your example.

Our campaign to flip all members will continue, but it is important to celebrate today’s victory. This win is another example of AEA working on behalf of teachers and education support professionals in Arizona and keeping the promise of quality public education.

Sincerely,

Andrew F. Morrill, President

Arizona Education Association

Did you know you can also get advocacy form AEA online? It’s easy! Just go to www.aeahelpdesk.org and fill out the form.

Channel 12 News, in partnership with Stand for Children Arizona, Expect More Arizona, and Valley of the Sun United Way, with support from the Participant Media Foundation, invite you to a town hall meeting for an important discussion about education.

Partnering for Change:  School Solutions for Arizona
Thursday, May 19, 2011
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Herberger Theater Stage West

This event will show excerpts from Participant Media’s Waiting for “Superman,” a documentary film by Davis Guggenheim that explores the current state of public education in the United States.  AEA President Andrew F. Morrill will be one of the featured panelists in this important conversation.

Your attendance is appreciated to ensure the perspective of teachers, education support professionals, and public education supporters are represented at this town hall.  Please be sure to register online at partneringforchangeaz.eventbrite.com.

Today the Arizona Legislature passed the Educator Gag Bill, SB1365, which is an attempt at silencing your voice by eliminating payroll dues deduction, for all practical purposes, as a method of dues collection for labor unions.  TAKE ACTION and contact Governor Jan Brewer asking her to veto SB1365.

AEA is your voice for quality public education in Arizona.  There is no other organization at the capitol or in the state that is speaking up on behalf of educators; without AEA, educators do not have a voice in improving working conditions and the quality of public education.  With the passage of this bill, legislators are trying to silence your voice.

AEA has fought to prevent the passage of legislation impacting payroll dues deduction for the past four years.  Unfortunately, as a result of the last election, educators have fewer friends at the state legislature, and as consequence, your voice is facing a serious threat from this anti-union legislation.  Read AEA’s summary of the bill and its impact on Association work.

These are the toughest times for school budgets in Arizona history. In the next year, critical decisions will be made on such things as health care premiums, layoffs, and class size. AEA is the only member organization with the strength to fight effectively for you, your students, and Arizona schools.

If this legislation passes, we will not be silenced. It will mean AEA members will use an alternative dues payment method, such as Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).  We need to stand together, now more than ever.

Switching the Association’s entire membership to another form of dues collection is going to take a huge, concerted effort.  But when we are successful, it will make us less reliant on political forces who oppose quality public education. We will be stronger.If you are interested in getting involved in this effort, please let us know.  Our professions and the future of Arizona’s children are at stake.