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where NEA and AFT affiliates have merged,

happens, however, it is likely to be short-term

the merged organizations are affiliated with

because competition should weed out the less

the AFL-CIO. AFL-CIO policies prohibit its

efficient exclusive representatives.

affiliates from trying to organize workers

For those and other reasons, competition

who are already represented by an AFL-CIO

to NEA/AFT affiliates may emerge first from

affiliate, or who are in the process of being

labor law attorneys and law firms, for-profit

organized by an AFL-CIO affiliate. After all

entrepreneurs, and collective bargaining orga-

their rhetoric about the need to merge to

nizations. A large number of lawyers already

ward off the evils of school choice, it would

work full-time or on retainer for the teacher

be difficult for NEA/AFT leaders to justify a

unions, and it would be surprising if some did

raid on the other union, even where the other

not prefer to represent teachers under the

union has not performed adequately.

arrangements outlined in the foregoing pro-

Parenthetically, the AFT has wasted substan-

posal. School boards frequently employ chief

tial amounts of dues revenues in organizing

negotiators who represent several school

efforts that were held to violate the AFL-CIO

boards, and there is no reason why teachers

prohibitions against raiding other AFL-CIO

cannot employ negotiators who represent

affiliates.21 Not surprisingly, the AFT rank

teachers in several school districts.22 Multiple

and file is not informed about the costs of

clients would make it possible to take advan-

these violations of AFL-CIO policy.

tage of several economies of scale. For exam-

There are independent teacher organiza-

ple, the cost of legal research that affects sever-

tions that seek to represent teachers in the

al school districts could be shared and would,

bargaining law states, but they are opposed

therefore, be much less per teacher than the

A massive ouster

to collective bargaining and do not have an

amount that would be paid for the research by

of NEA/AFT

alternative to it. As long as this continues to

teachers in a single district.

affiliates as exclu-

be the case, these organizations have no

A massive ouster of NEA/AFT affiliates as

chance of ousting NEA/AFT affiliates as the

exclusive representatives would not be likely

sive representa-

exclusive representative; in fact, they are typi-

to happen immediately, because only about

tives would not

cally hard-pressed to retain their member-

one-third of the teacher union contracts

ship because they oppose collective bargain-

expire in any given year, and it will take some

be likely to hap-

ing but do not propose an alternative system

time for potential competitors to prepare to

pen immediately,

of teacher representation. Some of these

challenge NEA/AFT affiliates in representa-

because only

organizations would adopt a pro-bargaining

tion elections. Nonetheless, even a relatively

position if the proposal at hand were enact-

small number of immediate defections

about one-third

ed, but even then they might face credibility

might lead to significant changes in the

of the teacher

and competence problems unless they could

NEA/AFT. To forestall massive defections,

union contracts

demonstrate immediate access to competent

the NEA/AFT might have to lower their dues,

collective bargaining assistance.

move away from their close ties to the

expire in any

School management will split on propos-

Democratic party, moderate their hard-core

given year.

als to introduce competition in teacher repre-

left agenda, and reduce their contributions

sentation. Many school boards and adminis-

and commitments to organizations that pro-

trators will prefer the devil they don't know to

mote it. These projections are admittedly

the one they do know. Others will fear that

speculative; perhaps neutrality about the

organizational rivalry will disrupt the school

effects makes more sense, but it is difficult to

system, especially if the organizations com-

see how competition could fail to have some

pete on the basis of which one can squeeze the

of those effects.

most out of the school board. The selection of

Significantly, one of the reasons for work-

negotiators may split school faculties and lead

er reluctance to join unions in the private sec-

to long-term conflict that adversely affects the

tor is their fear of being subject to union dis-

work the teachers are paid to do. When this

cipline. That issue is a quandary for the NEA

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