IPE Services Page

Indiana's Professional Association

for Independent Educators

Teachers cannot be forced to join, pay dues or fees, or make political contributions to a labor union as a condition of employment.

Public school teachers have rights as individuals and professionals which they are entitled to exercise. However, many are not aware of their rights when dealing with the teacher unions. Did you know that Indiana law is one of the most unique and progressive in the country when it comes to protecting the rights of public school teachers?

What can teaching professionals who disagree with the union’s activities and agenda do about it? Indiana law protects the rights of individual teachers not to be forced to join or financially support a union.

Union fees or fair share fees?
Indiana law prohibits provisions in any contract entered into after July 1, 1995 requiring a teacher to join or pay any fee to a union or teacher organization by any other name. However, a few local school/union agreements continue to have "fair share" provisions included on a retroactive basis, if and when the teachers unions are able to amend or repeal the prohibition law now in force. These fair share provisions are unenforceable! IPE will continue to challenge any amendment or change in these present Public Law 199 protections.

IMPORTANT: READ YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL/UNION CONTRACT!

You have the right to resign from the union.
Regardless of whether a teacher is a voluntary member or was misled or coerced into joining the union, that teacher has a right to resign and sever his or her membership with the union. If a union official tells a member that he or she is not free to resign, this is a misleading statement.

Many local union by-laws or constitutions contain provisions requiring written notification to a union officer in a specified window of time in order to resign. Teachers must find the specific window of time in either the union by-laws or constitution or the school/union local contract. Such restrictions on teachers’ rights will continue to be challenged by IPE.

Have you been told by your union that you're a "a free rider"?

The better terminology is "captive passenger".

Guide for resigning from the union

Indiana Professional Educators, Inc.

6919 E. 10th Street, Suite E-3, Indianapolis, IN 46219

Phone: (317) 356-2878 Toll-free: (800) 673-4734 Fax: (317) 356-2883 Email: ipeinc@sbcglobal.net