Some Indiana teacher unions see declines in membership

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – Some teacher union leaders in Indiana say they have seen declines in membership since 2011, when the Legislature passed a law limiting the scope of collective bargaining agreements to wages and wage-related benefits.

Union leaders say the reasons for the drop including the costs of being a union member, a feeling of helplessness caused by changing education standards and a frustration over the lack of funding for public education. They say new and younger teachers are finding fewer reasons to join because of the change in law.

The Journal & Courier reports the Lafayette Education Association saw a 17 percent drop in the past four school years. The South Bend Tribune reports unions in Mishawaka and Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp. have seen membership decline by about 10 percent.