Teachers’ Unions are fading away from America, especially in right to work states, and the voices of the working class are sometimes going unheard. Unions provide support for unjust pay or conditions and without them, the people won’t have a voice to argue with.

Unions were created to defend the common man from big corporations and to provide support for those who felt unjustly treated by corporations. Yet, is that power as strong as it once was? About half of the Unites States are right to work a state, which means that participating in a union is voluntary and that one does not have to make dues to the union if they don’t want to. The other half of the United States typically supports unions. Unions have historically been linked to salary amongst the workers and even today, unions negotiate the salaries.

Many would agree, though, that the teacher’s union has lost its power.

Ms. Kiersten Bordner, who is the faculty representative for Seminole High School and a part of the union, stated “The power of the union has decreased simply because the state has taken away so much power from unions. Unions are very well-intentioned. It is the union’s goal to protect teachers’ employment, protect working conditions, negotiate wages, etc.”

Seminole County teachers have yet to receive a raise in over five years even though it is one of the highest performing districts in the state. Due to the lack of raise, teachers may feel that they have little say and are not being recognized.

An anonymous teacher said, “I do not believe unions have a great deal of power in Florida or ‘right to work’ states in general. Other parts of the country like New York or California will see more impact from unions.” California and New York are not right to work states.

Strikes are unheard of in Florida because if one person strikes then they are simply fired without the support of the union. In New York (where everyone has to pay union dues) the union is more powerful, which allows for more support on strikes. This includes the bus strike on February 20, 2013.

Even with the little support Florida’s unions provide, some people are determined to stay in the union out of principle and to have that group of common supporters.

Mr. Robert Ash expressed, “I am a member of the teachers union in Seminole County only out of principle, because it is so weak and inept. People fought and died for the work place rights we enjoy and to give a voice to future generations of workers.”