In Colorado, teacher unions are often perceived as the collective voice of educators, but recent revelations challenge this narrative.
Out of 179 school districts in the state, fewer than 40 engage in formal collective-bargaining agreements, or ‘master’ agreements, where unions negotiate on behalf of all teachers regarding pay and benefits.
Many districts utilize memorandums of understanding that are similar but distinct from traditional collective bargaining.
A significant portion of Colorado’s school districts are not unionized at all.
While numerous districts have union affiliates, these organizations frequently operate more like clubs, and many teachers join under the impression that they need the liability protection that unions provide.
However, alternative liability policies from organizations such as the Professional Association of Colorado Educators, the Association of American Educators, and the Teacher Freedom Alliance can cost as little as $20 a month or even be free, in stark contrast to the $70 monthly dues in unionized districts like Denver, where dues are automatically deducted from teacher salaries.
Alarmingly, union membership appears to be on the decline even in some of the largest school districts in Colorado.
Recent data reveals that in Jeffco Schools, the state’s second-largest district, only around 30% of teachers are union members, despite the union’s claims of representing all educators.
In a letter to the school board regarding the latest collective bargaining agreement finalized in August, associate HR chief Scott Barnes pointed out, ‘The district bargains with a minority voice of the employee population.
The majority (65-70%) of our employees have consciously opted out.’
He further questioned, ‘Why do we act as if they represent a majority voice, when clearly, they do not?’
This observation raises critical questions about the true representation of teacher unions within school districts.
Similar trends can be observed across the Front Range.
In Colorado Springs District 11, which recently ended collective bargaining, only about 33% of teachers are believed to be union members.
In neighboring Academy District 20, that number sits at an even lower estimated 7%.
While Denver Public Schools maintains a union membership of nearly 70%, Douglas County’s rapidly growing district records only around 20% since ending collective bargaining in 2012.
The lack of public support has compelled the Douglas County Education Association to fund candidates for the school board who don’t openly promote unionization.
Before the reform-minded majority took control of Woodland Park’s school board in 2021, the small Teller County district utilized a ‘meet-and-confer’ system that resembled collective bargaining, despite only having about 30% union membership.
Following the change in leadership, Woodland Park eliminated automatic dues deductions, provided alternative liability coverage for teachers, and ceased tacit negotiations with the union.
These changes led the Colorado Education Association, which oversees most local teacher unions in the state, to declare a ‘crisis.’
However, it appears that many Woodland Park teachers were not concerned, as union membership plummeted to as low as 15%.
As unions lose their influence within districts, teachers become more discerning, demonstrating that unions often rely on misconceptions to assert they are the primary voice of the educational community.
As voters prepare to make decisions in school board elections, the low membership levels signal a clear message: teacher unions do not represent all or even most educators in Colorado.
With this insight, it appears that teacher unions may speak for fewer educators than ever before in the state.
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