Indiana Lawmakers Want Schools To Publicize Union Involvement

Indiana lawmakers are considering a measure which would annually notify teachers of their right to change representation, if union membership drops below 50 percent at a school. (chancadoodle/Flickr)

Schools would be required to publicly display the percentage of teachers involved in a union under a Republican-backed measure moving through the Indiana Statehouse.

In cases where union participation falls below a certain amount, the measure would require the state to annually notify teachers they can dispense of or change representation. The bill was approved Monday in a 60-38 vote by the Indiana House of Representatives.

“It’s just information,” says Rep. Gerald Torr (R-Carmel), the bill’s sponsor. “Making it transparent and easy to find.”

Labor unions say it stokes anti-union sentiments in the state. At a hearing last week, representatives from the Indiana State Teachers Association called the measure a “poke in the eye” from Indiana lawmakers trying to clamp down on organized labor. The American Federation of Teachers have also come out against it.

Under Sen. Erin Houchin’s (R-Salem) measure, the percentage of union participation at every school would be available on the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board website.

State officials would notify teachers when union membership drops below 50 percent of all teachers. At that point, they would also inform teachers annually about their ability to change representation under law.

Rep. Vernon Smith (D-Gary) says the bill is unnecessary, transparency is not an issue. He calls it a “cumbersome” political attack.

“This bill is a political attack on the union,” Smith says. “It is for some outside entities who have a business motive, a profit motive.”

Others expressed concerns that the measure interferes with union processes.

“It’s predicated on the assumption that teachers don’t know what’s going on in their schools,” says Rep. Ed Delaney (D-Indianapolis). “It’s [the state] putting its thumb on the scale and influencing the process.”

Republicans supporting the bill argue that displaying union membership is about transparency and aiding teachers intimidated by unions.

“I just don’t see the boogie man in this bill,” says Rep. Tony Cook (R-Cicero).

Opponents say this information is available via public record requests and from district superintendents.

The process for triggering a representation election in a school district is already laid out in law. If 20 percent of school employees want new representation, they may call an election.

Torr, the measure’s sponsor, also carried 2012’s right-to-work legislation. Critics argue this year’s legislation similarly reduces union power. Torr disagrees.

“This is for the teachers in the school,” Torr says. “If they like their representation they will vote to keep it.”

The measure now heads to the governor for final approval.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said the bill headed back to the Senate, it in fact goes to the governor.