Arkansas Education Association Michael Keckhaver/Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Update: After a late-night victory for the teachers when the House voted down SB473, representatives sneakily took up the bill again this morning and passed it. Teachers’ association members will no longer be able to choose to have their dues automatically deducted from their paychecks if the governor signs this bill into law.

After taking a beating in the House Education Committee meeting, teachers’ organizations came out on top Wednesday night when the full House voted down a bill aimed at further chipping away their status and power.

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Senate Bill 473 sponsored by Sen. Joshua Bryant (R-Rogers) and Rep. Grant Hodges (R-Centerton) would have changed the way members of the Arkansas Education Association, a local union affiliated with the National Education Association, could pay their dues.

The Arkansas Legislature already pummeled teachers’ unions last session, taking away their collective bargaining rights. This bill would have prevented members from having their dues automatically deducted from their paychecks. In addition to being a petty snub, the bill had the potential to drain membership numbers if educators opted not to hassle with setting up a new payment system.

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But the bill failed on the House floor, and you can see how your rep voted here. 

Carol Fleming, president of the Arkansas Education Association, issued this statement Thursday.

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“We are all breathing a sigh of relief that the unrelenting assault on public school educators was put on pause last night. We’re grateful to members of the House who recognized that rather than offering our members a choice about whether or not to join their professional organization, this bill would have taken away the easiest option and preferred method of participation by the majority of our members.

AEA’s advocacy for our students and colleagues will continue. Our work will focus on finding common ground with lawmakers and community partners to further our shared goal of making Arkansas’ schools some of the best in the nation.”

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