Why Do Teachers in Vermillion Pay So Much in Union Dues?

My interest in the teacher's union contract began as a way to understand why union membership was $40 a month (almost $500 a year) in Vermilion Parish. Teachers do not make a lot of money to begin with, but pulling $500 out of our salary is tough.

The Louisiana Association of Educators, the only teacher's union in Vermilion Parish because they've been given a monopoly by the Vermilion Parish School Board, is giving significant money to the National Educators Association. This is one of the largest lobbying organizations in the United States.

Recently, LAE officials admitted that some 20% of union dues for each teacher go to the national organization (the NEA). LAE officials were quoted here saying, "Dues typically total about $40 per month, with the proceeds divided among the organization’s national, state and local offices — roughly 20 percent, 50 percent and 30 percent, respectively."

What this means is that at $40 per month, for 12 months, the average teacher in Vermilion Parish is contributing about $480 to the LAE. Roughly $100 of that is being given to the NEA, which they then use to support certain political candidates and groups, which teachers in Vermilion Parish may or may not agree with. For example:

This shows hows skewed the NEA's contributions are by party. If you are a Republican, Independent, or conservative Democrat, it's highly unlikely your views are being represented in this graph. The ~$100 a year that you're contributing to NEA is being used to largely support certain Democratic politicians. Even if you are a Democrat who supports those that the NEA supports, wouldn't you rather be the one making decisions about how to spend your money in politics and who to support? If you're non-political, wouldn't you rather save that money?