ISTA

The Indiana State Teachers Association, is a labor union representing some 47,000 school employees, according to the Education Intelligence Agency.

While their revenues have been in excess of $20 million a year, over the last few years, their liabilities have begun to eclipse their income.

                   *Other factors impact Total Net Assets, beyond basic revenue and expenses

                   See 990 tax returns for details

Click the year to see the 990 tax return.

Compensation

As the financial picture for the union grew dimmer, it grew brighter for top employees.

       *Briganti is no longer president of the union

       **Williams resigned May 14, 2009, upon news of the scandal

In 2006, according to financial reports, Briganti received $21,600 for a “housing allowance.”

Compensation for these employees increased, just as their organization’s financial woes did. 

Membership is not mandatory

Despite what may be said otherwise, membership in ISTA is voluntary.  While signing up is subtle, it is not required as a condition of employment.

Members of ISTA sign this agreement which allows schools to deduct, via payroll, union dues and PAC contributions.

As pointed out on the Political Activity page of this website, this taxpayer-funded mechanism for collecting PAC contributions for the union reaps the vast majority of its receipts.  By signing this form, school employees make it very difficult for themselves if and when they decide to resign from the union.

Indiana Professional Educators, Inc., an Indianapolis-based alternative teachers' professional organization, has produced a fact sheet on the requirements of resignation from ISTA.

ISTA also provides a Waiver of Membership form to be completed to not join their union in the first place.  All a teacher has to do is fill in the local union name, fill in his or her name at the bottom and sign it.

The form must be signed in the presence of a union official, who acts as witness, so it's reasonable to assume a little intimidation will be thrown in.

State protection for teachers kicks a leg out from the ISTA stool

One of the leading reasons teachers join ISTA is for the assurance of liability protection in the case of an incident on the job.

The Times reports on NWI.com, “House Bill 1462…would provide ‘qualified immunity’ to educators who follow school procedures while breaking up a fight or disciplining students. The proposed law is designed to make it easier for judges to dismiss lawsuits brought by parents who disagree with a disciplinary action.”

Additionally, School Reform News reported, “The bill grants qualified civil immunity to teachers and administrators who act in good faith to maintain order and discipline in schools and classrooms,” according to a spokesman for the Department of Education.

A copy of the bill can be found here.

Internal ISTA documents

Here are several documents likely never intended to see the light of day.  Some are being made public likely for the first time.  They hopefully should paint a clearer, more complete picture of ISTA and their agenda to maintain power.

2008-09 ISTA Handbook

ISTA Sample Contract Language and Rationale - 2009

Public Law 217 (collective bargaining) with ISTA Commentary

Unsettled Locals May 2009

Application for Attorneys Fees for Criminal Defense

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