Freedom Foundation assists teachers in decertification process
Powers, OR – In a decisive move toward greater independence and accountability, teachers in Powers School District No. 31 have voted unanimously to cut ties with the Oregon Education Association (OEA) and replace their affiliate, the Powers Education Association (PEA), with a newly formed local union dubbed the Cruiser Educators Association.
Frustrated with years of inadequate representation, political spending unrelated to education, and a lack of responsiveness from their state-level union, the teachers turned to the Freedom Foundation, which guided them through Oregon’s union decertification process from start to finish.
“This is a perfect example of what happens when educators realize they don’t have to settle for a union that doesn’t serve them,” said Aaron Withe, CEO of the Freedom Foundation. “The Powers teachers chose independence, accountability and transparency — and we were proud to help them every step of the way.”
The push for change began in late 2024 after teachers became increasingly disillusioned with PEA’s priorities and conduct. Teachers raised serious concerns about the union’s decision to defend a colleague under investigation for sexual abuse of a student, as well as its use of dues to fund divisive political causes instead of supporting educators.
With legal and logistical support from the Freedom Foundation, the group filed a petition with the Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB) to trigger a representation election.
“The teachers in Powers, Oregon are a prime example of what is going on around the country,” said Allison Beattie, a labor policy expert with the Freedom Foundation. “Public employees who are fed up with their incumbent union are realizing they can replace it with a self-governed, independent local association.”
“We worked with these teachers to set up their own association and file the necessary paperwork with the ERB,” Beattie continued. “The OEA affiliate was so disengaged it never even responded to the teachers and took weeks to acknowledge the board’s communications about holding an election. Instead of these entrenched unions that bleed money from members and provide little or no services, public employees like the teachers of Powers deserve independent unions that are directly responsive to their members and cost far less.”
Despite procedural delays caused by the incumbent union’s failure to engage, the election proceeded. The PEA eventually disclaimed interest in continuing to represent the teachers, leaving the Cruiser Educators Association as the only option on the ballot.
Every teacher who voted supported the new local union.
“We just wanted a union that put our students and our community first,” said Gabe Shorb, now president of the Cruiser Educators Association. “With the Freedom Foundation’s help, we built exactly that. No politics, no top-down bureaucracy. Just real, local representation by teachers for teachers to better serve students.”
Under the previous OEA-affiliated union, teachers paid approximately $1,100 per year in dues. The Cruiser Educators Association will charge no dues at all, ensuring that educators’ money stays in their wallets.
The victory in Powers reflects a growing national trend as more public employees recognize they are not locked into outdated, unresponsive unions. The Freedom Foundation is currently working with employee groups in multiple states to help them either reform or fully replace unions that no longer represent their members’ best interests.
“Most of these unions were formed 40 or 50 years ago and have faced little to no scrutiny since,” Withe added. “But when public employees are shown their rights and equipped with the tools to act, they take control. What happened in Powers is just the beginning.”
The Freedom Foundation continues its mission nationwide to ensure teachers and other public employees know their rights and have the resources to build better, more responsive representation — on their own terms.
More information about the union decertification in Oregon be found here.
