Scranton-Area Teacher Files Lawsuit Over Unconstitutional Union Fees

Perrotti v. PSEA

Case Summary

  • Dave Perrotti, a public school teacher, resigned from the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the Abington Heights Education Association (AHEA). 
  • Despite being a nonmember, Dave’s collective bargaining agreement forced him to pay “fair-share fees,” a practice ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2018.
  • The union sent Dave threatening “collection” letters for the hundreds of dollars they claim he owes.

Teacher Stands Up to PSEA Over Illegal Fee Collection

Dave Perrotti resigned from both the PSEA and the local affiliate in 2020 after 16 years of membership. Dave’s resignation was accepted by the PSEA, but they started sending him threatening letters that said he owed them over $700 in back dues for the membership year he resigned.

The teachers’ union had included a provision in the collective bargaining agreement with Dave’s school district that requires nonmembers to pay union fees and restricts when members can resign to a fifteen-day window. However, the Supreme Court had ruled forced union payments for nonmembers unconstitutional two years before Dave resigned.

With the help of the Fairness Center, Dave filed a federal civil rights lawsuit to defend his constitutional right to not support or be associated with a union against his will.

Case Status & Documents

Perrotti v. PSEA is closed.

Media

Teacher Sues Union That Demands He Pay Dues For Almost A Year After He Resigned

News | The Federalist

August 18, 2021: “The leadership of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) teachers union and its local affiliate, the Abington Heights Education Association (AHEA), are trying to force fees on teachers who have resigned their membership.”

PSEA Affiliates Ignore SCOTUS Ruling, Contracting with School Districts for Unconstitutional Fees from Teachers

News Release | The Fairness Center

June 29, 2021: “Three years ago the Supreme Court ruled that public-sector union officials could not compel nonmembers to pay union fees. But local officials of Pennsylvania’s largest teachers’ union, Pennsylvania State Education Association (“PSEA”), are still inking contracts that could cause nonmembers to pay illegal union fees.”