Union membership among Idaho teachers has dropped sharply in recent years. Idaho Education News reports a 14.3 percent decline in Idaho Education Association (IEA) membership between the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years. That is compared to a 3.6 percent drop nationally.
Idaho Ed News got the numbers from the National Education Association (NEA) after previously reporting on similar numbers from an anti-union organization. The IEA would not to confirm the numbers but union president Penni Cyr told Ed News:
“Our membership trends tend to mirror the current environment of education in Idaho,” Cyr said. “Teaching positions have been lost in many districts around the state, and the policies and funding decisions of elected officials have served to marginalize education professionals.” – Idaho Education News
The decline in IEA membership came at a time when lawmakers and state officials were making a push to reduce the union’s influence. As Ed News points out:
“The 2011 Legislature passed Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna’s three Students Come First education laws, including one law narrowing the collective bargaining process.” – Idaho Education News
By the following school year the IEA had lost 1,600 members with 9,577 still active.
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