Updated August 26

A brief article in the August 14 edition of the Pueblo Chieftain features coverage of a special roadside message notifying local teachers of their limited opportunity to avoid paying union membership or non-member “representation” fees:

The Independence Institute has placed a billboard on U.S. 50 East alerting teachers of the upcoming deadline to opt out of the Pueblo Education Association and the Pueblo County Education Association.

Click here for a PDF copy of the full story, which includes quotes from the Education Policy Center’s Ben DeGrow, as well as union leaders’ claims that “The Independence Institute’s goal is to destroy public education.”

On August 23, the Chieftain issued an editorial extending the informative message to area educators:

It is of utmost importance that each one has both the most complete information and a low-pressure environment in order to make the membership decision that is right for him or her.

Teachers and other K-12 employees in both Pueblo City Schools and Pueblo County 70 have until September 15 to submit a certified letter or make a personal visit to the union office to avoid a full year’s worth of union payments. The total annual out-of-pocket cost for many teachers could end up well over $700.

The billboard is provided for in partnership with the National Employee Freedom Week campaign (August 10-16). Read the full Independence Institute press release highlighting the launch of the billboard and the release of related poll results.