Earlier this week our friends at the Education Intelligence Agency (EIA) reported that 15 National Education Association (NEA) state affiliates ran budget deficits and 25 saw a decline in dues income. EIA analyzed the latest available state and national data (2010-11) and found NEA lost 2 percent of active membership. However because of increases in dues, revenue losses were limited to only about $3.7 million or about .3 percent.
How did NEA’s North Carolina affiliate, the North Carolina Association of Educators(NCAE) fair in the same categories? EIA reported NCAE membership declined by 7.6 percent. Among states, North Carolina’s percentage decline was second only to Arizona which was down 10.2 percent.
And what about revenue from dues income? According to EIA, dues income in North Carolina is actually up 3.4 percent over 2009-10. In North Carolina, the average teacher pays membership dues of about $400 per year. Employee compensation (this figure includes salaries and benefits for current teacher union staff and set-asides for pensions and post-retirement health care) however, declined by 7.2 percent. Of the fifteen states experiencing declines in employee compensation income, North Carolina’s percentage decline was again the second highest.
Keep in mind however; these are 2010-11 figures. They do not include more recent membership changes or reflect changes resulting from the repeal of dues check off legislation. Despite the trend lines, expect NEA and NCAE to continue to exert its considerable influence at the ballot box.
[…] Winner Winner, chicken dinner […]