A veteran New Jersey teacher is taking legal action against the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), accusing the state’s largest teachers’ union of misusing union dues for political purposes without members’ knowledge or consent. The lawsuit, filed by the teacher and a fellow educator with the help of the Fairness Center, claims the NJEA violated its contract with members, broke its fiduciary duty, and misled educators about how their dues money would be spent.
What Happened?
The case revolves around the NJEA’s political action committee (PAC), which allegedly misused more than $40 million in union dues for political purposes. Union officials reportedly used the funds to support former NJEA President Sean Spiller’s gubernatorial campaign, despite his long odds of winning and the clear violation of what the union had told its members.
According to the lawsuit, NJEA officials claimed for years that contributions to the PAC were voluntary and separate from membership dues. However, recent investigations revealed that a significant amount of union funds were funneled into political activities, including Spiller’s unsuccessful campaign for governor. Despite the NJEA’s claim that members’ dues would not be used for partisan political campaigns, public records suggest otherwise, raising serious questions about transparency and the handling of the funds.
Who Are the Plaintiffs?
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are two long-serving New Jersey teachers who claim the union’s use of their dues for political purposes violated the terms of their membership contract. One of the plaintiffs, a 33-year veteran of public school teaching, says he was misled by union officials and feels betrayed by the organization that was supposed to represent the best interests of teachers. The teachers are seeking justice for what they believe is a breach of their membership agreement, which clearly stated that political contributions were voluntary.
The teachers are also working with the Fairness Center, a nonprofit law firm specializing in defending workers’ rights. The lawsuit highlights the larger issue of union transparency and accountability, particularly when it comes to the handling of dues money.
Key Details of the Case
The lawsuit focuses on the NJEA’s involvement in two super PACs: Garden State Forward and Working New Jersey. According to filings, over the last 12 years, the NJEA has funneled a staggering $114 million in teachers’ dues to these groups. During the 2025 election cycle, more than $40 million of those funds were directed to supporting Spiller’s campaign, which ended in a distant fifth-place finish in the Democratic primary.
Legal experts say the PAC spending may have violated New Jersey’s campaign finance laws. The NJEA has not responded to questions about how the funds were used or whether the union bypassed state contribution limits by using affiliated PACs to funnel additional money to Spiller’s campaign.
Public and Social Media Reactions
The story has sparked outrage among educators, many of whom feel their dues were misused. “We trusted the union to represent us and protect our interests. This is a betrayal,” said one of the plaintiffs in a recent statement. “Our dues should be used to support teachers, not fund political campaigns.”
Many educators have taken to social media to express their frustration. “This is not what we signed up for,” wrote one teacher on Twitter. “I feel like we’ve been taken advantage of by those who were supposed to represent us.”
On the other hand, union spokesperson Steve Baker defended the actions of the NJEA, stating, “NJEA is a member-led union that operates as a representative democracy. Our members’ decisions about which candidates to endorse and what resources to use in support of those endorsed candidates are made by our elected bodies.” But this defense has done little to quell the backlash from members who feel deceived and betrayed.
Official Statements and Next Steps
The NJEA’s official stance remains that its actions were legitimate and that the union will defend its decision to support political candidates through its PAC. However, the lawsuit has prompted further investigations into the handling of union funds, with the New Jersey Policy Institute and the IRS also looking into potential violations of campaign finance laws.
The Fairness Center, representing the plaintiffs, aims to hold the NJEA accountable for its actions and restore confidence in the union’s ability to represent teachers fairly and transparently.
The case is still ongoing, and updates are expected as more information comes to light. The plaintiffs hope that their legal action will lead to greater transparency and ensure that union dues are used appropriately in the future.
Closing Line
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available. Educators and union members alike will be watching closely as the case progresses, hoping for a resolution that restores trust in the NJEA and its handling of members’ dues.
The post Breaking News: New Jersey Teacher Sues NJEA Over Misuse of Union Dues first appeared on Trusted and Verified USA News.
