The numbers are in, and now it’s official: The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) lost at least 3 percent of its members from 2022 to 2023, according to a recent analysis from the Sunlight Policy Center. And let’s be clear — this isn’t happening by accident. The Freedom Foundation’s outreach efforts are making a real impact, and we’ve only just begun.
For years, the NJEA has counted on forced union dues to fill its coffers and fund its political agenda. The union pushes hard for policies and candidates that many of its members don’t agree with, using their hard-earned money to do it. We’re hearing from educators across New Jersey who are tired of being forced to fund causes that don’t align with their values.
And who can blame them? Teachers got into this profession to help students, not bankroll political campaigns.
We’ve been hitting the ground hard in New Jersey, making sure public employees know they have a choice. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME ruling affirmed the First Amendment rights of public employees to eschew union membership and dues, the stage has been set for a mass exodus. The only thing preventing that outcome is the unions’ ability to suppress information about those rights. We’re changing that.
The Freedom Foundation’s outreach efforts — whether through post mail, emails, personal conversations or knocking on doors — are helping NJEA members understand their rights and take control of their paychecks. To date, we’ve helped nearly 1,000 NJEA members cancel their union dues, keeping more of their hard-earned money in their own pockets.
The best part of this shift? It’s the teachers themselves who are stepping up and leading the charge. NJEA members are realizing they can keep all the benefits of their job—like health insurance, salary, and seniority protections—without funding a union that prioritizes politics over education. And we’re here to back them up every step of the way, empowering them with the information and support they need to make informed decisions about their future.
The Freedom Foundation has introduced countless educators to alternatives for liability insurance and professional support that don’t come with the political strings attached. When teachers see that they can leave the union without sacrificing protection, it’s a no-brainer.
A 3 percent drop in membership might not sound like much on the surface, but when you look at how it impacts the union’s ability to fund its political activities, it’s a game-changer.
NJEA leadership is watching its political power slip, and it’s only going to get worse for them. As more members realize they have the freedom to opt out, the union’s stranglehold on New Jersey’s education system is starting to loosen.
What happens next? That depends on the NJEA. Union leaders can either keep pushing their political agenda or they can start listening to their members. If they don’t, they’ll continue to lose more and more educators who just want to focus on teaching, not politics.
What we’ve accomplished in New Jersey so far is just the beginning. The 3 percent membership loss is a significant step, but it’s only scratching the surface. Thousands of teachers are still waiting to learn about their rights, and many are ready for a change. We’ll be there to help them every step of the way, making sure they have the knowledge and support they need to take control of their paychecks and their future.
The momentum is building, and we won’t stop until every public employee knows they have the freedom to choose — and the power to act on it.
