To opt out of TSTA 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.
*Please note: If you are currently paying TSTA dues via automatic credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments from your bank, you should also contact your bank directly to stop the payments.
The Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) is one of the state’s largest unions for teachers and other public school employees, representing approximately 60,000 workers.
Those who find themselves in a union-represented workplace should know that Texas law has long protected public employees from being forced to financially support a union against their will. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Janus v. AFSCME reaffirmed that all public employees have a constitutional right to choose for themselves whether to pay any union dues or fees.
You can opt out of TSTA dues by filling out the form above, printing it and mailing it to the union.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should receive some acknowledgement of your request from the union within a few weeks.
In many 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 the union.
*Please note: If you are currently paying TSTA dues via automatic credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments from your bank, you should also contact your bank directly to stop the payments.
Finally, keep in mind:
Opting out is your constitutional right. However, unions like TSTA 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.
The exact amount of your dues will vary depending on your local affiliate, but TSTA dues typically range from around $600-$800 per year.
No. Your employer – not the union or the union’s agreement – is ultimately responsible for the terms and conditions of your employment. Your compensation, health benefits, retirement, and anything else provided by the district will remain unchanged if you opt out of TSTA.
Texas law grants legal immunity to teachers and other professional school employees, meaning you cannot be held personally liable for acts performed within the scope of your job duties. Specifically, Section 22.0511 of the Texas Education Code provides:
“A professional employee of a school district is not personally liable for any act that is incident to or within the scope of the duties of the employee’s position of employment and that involves the exercise of judgment or discretion on the part of the employee, except in circumstances in which a professional employee uses excessive force in the discipline of students or negligence resulting in bodily injury to students.”
Since the first line of liability defense is provided by state law – not the union – check with the state and your district to learn more about your legal liability protection as a school employee.
However, the NEA does carry a supplemental liability policy that you will lose access to as a nonmember.
If you feel additional protection is necessary, some teachers choose to replace the union’s supplemental policy with similar liability insurance from independent organizations like the Association of American Educators (AAE) or Christian Educators Association International (CEAI).
While the terms of your employment will remain unchanged, union officials commonly prohibit nonmembers from participating in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings or voting for union officers. You’ll also be ineligible for any special “members only” benefits, such as discounts on additional insurance, scholarship programs, or deals the union has arranged with businesses. You may no longer receive the union newsletter or 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 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.
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.
TSTA is a private organization with minimal obligations to disclose financial information to members.
However, the IRS requires unions’ 990 tax return to be a public document, and these can be found online at sites like this. TSTA reports using the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 74-1316497. Here is their most recent filing.
Additionally, a portion of your local dues typically fund several related organizations, such as state and national affiliates. TSTA is an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), which is required to file annual financial reports with the U.S. Department of Labor. The most recent report filed by the NEA is available here.