The leaders of the associations representing school administrators and suburban school districts offered comments regarding the recent passage of HB 1749 by the State Senate.
HB 1749, if signed into law, would prohibit public schools from offering voluntary payroll deductions to Oklahoma teachers to pay for membership dues in their professional associations.
“HB 1749 is a solution desperately seeking a problem. We agree with Senator Shortey that HB 1749 is ‘a poke in the eye’ of Oklahoma’s public school teachers. HB 1749 represents government overreach into the private and constitutionally protected decisions of public school teachers to affiliate with a professional association. HB 1749 is unnecessary in Oklahoma because we are a right to work state, and while certain groups may organize to represent the interests of their members, Oklahoma employers are never subject to the threat of strikes or organized walkouts.”
“Oklahoma teachers are hard-working, dedicated public servants who deserve our respect and support. HB 1749 is likely unconstitutional and, if signed into law, could expose our state to lawsuits that waste limited taxpayer resources. We ask that Governor Fallin veto HB 1749 and continue to work with parents and educators to address the real problems impacting student achievement; such as having a quality teacher for every student and realizing common sense testing for all students.”
