MFPE - MT

To opt out of MFPE – MT 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.

Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE) represents over 20,000 educators, school employees, state and local public employees across Montana.

For years, public employees in Montana have been forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment, allowing unions to take their members for granted. However, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that public employees can no longer be required to financially support a labor union against their will. (Janus v. AFSCME, 2018).

“States and public-sector unions may no longer extract [funds] from nonconsenting employees. . . . This procedure violates the First Amendment and cannot continue.”

Consequently, public employees may decline to pay these private organizations without losing their jobs or employer-provided benefits.

It is important to know that MFPE may continue to automatically withhold dues from employees pay even if they never signed up for membership in the first place. The best way to ensure the deductions stop is to submit a request to the union in writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after I send my resignation to the union?

You should receive some acknowledgement of your request from the union within a few weeks.

Because it has a financial interest in continuing to withhold dues from your pay, the union may contact you and attempt to persuade you to keep your membership. Their sales pitch may include untrue claims and scare tactics. It is a good idea to try to document any questionable claims made by union representatives. Do not be bullied! If you stand your ground, there is nothing the union can do to retaliate against you for opting out.

Monitor your paychecks to make sure the dues deductions stop. Contact the union if the deductions continue more than a couple paychecks after you submit your resignation request.

Some unions have tricked employees into signing membership forms with fine print waiving their right to resign except during a short annual window period. If the union claims you signed such a form and therefore cannot cancel the dues deductions from your pay, ask to be provided with documentation that you ever signed such an agreement.

Will the union continue to represent me if I opt out?

You should receive some acknowledgement of your request from the union within a few weeks.

Monitor your paychecks to make sure the dues deductions stop. Contact the union if the deductions continue more than a couple paychecks after you submit your resignation request.

Will I lose wages, health care, retirement or other benefits if I opt out?

No. All provisions of the collective bargaining agreement between the union and your employer will continue to govern your employment. Your wages, health benefits, retirement and anything else governed by the collective bargaining agreement will remain unchanged if you opt out of MFPE.

How will my relationship with the union change if I opt out?

While the terms of the collective bargaining agreement will still govern your employment, as a nonmember, the union may choose to prevent you from participating in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings or voting in union elections, including contract ratification votes. Unions also commonly withhold any special “members-only” deals or discounts the union has arranged for with businesses. You may no longer receive the union newsletter or similar publications.

Why do people opt out of the union?

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 because they are new to the profession, have a specialty that is not acknowledged in bargaining, or they believe 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.

Sometimes people have a faith-based objection to unions’ expenditures. To learn more about some of the major public unions’ expenditures in light of common faith beliefs, click here.

When can I opt out of my union?

Many unions allow opt outs at various times throughout the year. However, in their union membership contracts, a number of unions have stipulated certain times during the year (“windows”) when they will allow or process opt-out requests.

MFPE has specified an opt-out window ranging from September 1^st to the 30^th. Although this is the timeframe that the union has specified for processing opt-outs, you can certainly fill-out an opt-out request at Opt Out Today any time throughout the year.

How much are MFPE dues?

According to federal filings, MFPE collects up to $388 per year in dues. However, the total amount that MFPE members pay may be significantly higher as a result of additional dues charged by MFPE’s local unions and national affiliates, AFT and NEA. In 2022, members paid an average of $305 in dues and fees to MFPE.

How does MFPE spend my dues money?

Montana Federation of Public Employees

MFPE collected $6.3 million in dues and fees from its members in fiscal year 2022, according to reports the union must file with the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

In 2022 alone:

Over $3 million went to affiliated organizations, including the AFT and NEA headquarters in Washington, D.C., to support their massive political, economic and social agendas. AFT and NEA regularly support a host of controversial organizations.
$467,884 was spent by MFPE on political activities and lobbying.
$335,799 was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$358,918 was spent on attorneys, arbitration, and private consultants.
$118,631 was spent on hotel venues for travel and union conferences.

MFPE paid 67 officers and employees in 2022, 16 of whom were paid six figures. Executive Director Erik Burke’s compensation was $153,538.

Also, as of mid-2022, MFPE holds $2.4 million in cash reserves.

MFPE’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

A portion of the dues paid by MFPE members goes to support the American Federation of Teachers.

American Federation of Teachers

According to federal filings submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, AFT National collected $212 million from its members in fiscal year 2022.

In that same year:

$35.8 million was spent by AFT on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying.
$7.1 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$3.9 million was spent on airfare, hotels and travel for union staff.
$10 million was spent on private attorneys and consultants.
$211,000 was spent on food and catering.

AFT paid 385 officers and employees in 2022, 251 of whom were paid six figures. AFT president Rhonda Weingarten received $487,000.

AFT’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018.

A portion of the dues paid by MFPE members also goes to support the National Education Association.

National Education Association

According to its filings with the U.S. Dept. of Labor, NEA collected $375 million from its members in fiscal year 2022. In that year alone:

$41.6 million was spent on divisive political candidates, causes and lobbying.
$120 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations. This included $270,000 donated to the Democracy Alliance, a radical left organization founded by George Soros. NEA also gave $450,000 to the Strategic Victory Fund, a super PAC that has financially supported Planned Parenthood.
$11.2 million was spent on travel for union staff and hotel venues, including $1.4 million for a conference at the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas.
$19.9 million was spent on legal and consulting services.
$311,492 was spent on food and catering.

NEA paid 694 officers and employees in 2022, 429 of whom were paid six figures. NEA president Rebecca Pringle received $449,537.

NEA’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.