The Etiwanda Teachers Association is your exclusive representative in employment matters with the Etiwanda School District.  Because Etiwanda operates under an agency fee/organizational security agreement, all bargaining unit members share in the cost of that representation.  As a certificated employee of the District, you have four options by which you may fulfill the agency fee obligation.

Membership:  You may become a full member of the Association and pay full unified dues to ETA/CTA/NEA (through monthly payroll deduction or full cash payment at the start of the year), and take advantage of all the rights and benefits that come with membership  (Educators Employment Liability coverage, access to legal representation and eligibility for CTA-sponsored insurance programs and many more valuable membership benefits). 

Your membership also supports your colleagues.  Our ability to represent all bargaining unit members with the District is strengthened by increased membership.  Your membership will allow you to have an active voice in the local and will provide support at the bargaining table.  ETA is not just a union; it is a professional association dedicated to the improvement of teaching and learning in the Etiwanda School District.

Membership Status without contributing to the CTA/ABC (a bipartisan political fund):  A designated portion of CTA dues  (2.9% of CTA’s membership fund) is normally allocated to the Association for Better Citizenship (CTA/ABC), a bipartisan political fund through which CTA provides financial support for educational issues and CTA-endorsed candidates for local and state offices.  Those who choose not to allocate a portion of their dues to the CTA/ABC account, but instead want the 2.9% to remain in the General Fund, should complete the GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION FORM.   

This form when completed should be forwarded to the CTA Membership Accounting Department, P.O. Box 4178, Burlingame, CA 94011-4178.  Notification to the CTA membership department is only required once as long as you remain in the same school district; however, if during your teaching career you switch districts, CTA would need notification again. The GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION FORM  does not need to be mailed by an ETA officer; the individual teacher may notify CTA personally.

Agency Fee Payer Status:   Nonmembers pay an agency fee. This amount is equal to the amount paid by a member.

As an agency fee payer, however, you will not be a member of NEA, CTA, or your local union.  You will not be able to hold local offices or vote in local elections.  You will also forfeit access to membership benefits, including the ones described above.  You have the right to receive a rebate of the fee.  The rebate will be equal to the portion that represents political or ideological spending on the part of the local, CTA, and NEA that is not related to collective bargaining or employment matters.  Information regarding the estimated rebate amount and the procedure for requesting a rebate is provided to fee payers separately by CTA.

If you do not sign up for membership, you will automatically become a fee payer, unless you establish religious objector status.  If you have been an agency fee payer and wish to become a member of CTA/ETA, you will need to fill out an application.

Religious Objector Status: In lieu of payment of dues or agency fees, you may pay the equivalent of full unified dues to a non-labor, non-religious charitable fund which is exempt from taxation under IRS Code 501 ( c ) (3), if you are a member of a religious body whose teachings oppose payment of dues or fees to employee organizations, or if you hold sincere religious beliefs opposing unions.

To apply for religious exemption, and in order to prevent payroll deduction of agency fees, request for a religious objector status,  provided for by the IRS Code 501 ( c ) (3),by contacting Susan Ralston-Williams.  A form will be sent to you.  Completing the form will notify the union what non-religious or non-labor charity you wish to donate to.  The money needs to be equal to a full year’s dues or equivalent to the remainder of the school year should your status change after the school year starts.

All correspondence regarding membership status needs to be forwarded to the ETA Secretary.  The ETA Secretary for the 2008-2009 school year is:

                           Susan Ralston-Williams at Etiwanda Colony

                            susan_williams@etiwanda.k12.ca.us

                            susanetasecretary@verizon.net