IMMEDIATE LEGAL ADVICE

Members have access to exceptional legal services at the onset of problems.  Information about a wide range of legal issues affecting teachers is available on our Legal Issues page.  Additionally, if you have a problem or question that might have legal implications, you are urged to call NWPE (800-380-6973) to speak with our Director of Legal Services about your rights and responsibilities before a situation escalates.  Once your concern is reviewed, you will be advised of a recommended course of action.  Your member insurance policy also provides for counsel with a local attorney for eligible job protection issues such as a negative evaluation, nonrenewal, suspension, reduction in force, etc.  No other organization can assure this level of support.      

Compare NWPE Legal Services with the Teachers Union   

NWPE’s policy covers you—not our organization (as is the case with district and union liability policies).  NWPE members are not vulnerable to potential conflicts of interest with the district or union because they can access independent legal assistance and funds for legal fees at the onset of job protection issues. 

While the union has a liability insurance policy, it does not include the extra job protections for legal fees that Northwest Professional Educators provides in its liability policy. The union may provide legal assistance for job protection if it wants to—all the way to the Supreme Court.  It has provided some members with exceptional legal services.  The big question is, "Will it help you?" 

While attending training for local union leaders, NWPE member Hank Norquist asked the Washington Education Association’s (WEA) Assistant General Counsel Aimee Iverson about the extent of legal assistance union members can expect from union attorneys should they ever need it. Iverson told Norquist that union members are not entitled to the union attorneys’ legal assistance. "WEA attorneys serve the WEA, not the individual members," she told him. 

Furthermore, since 1995 the WEA has asked locals to represent teachers based on whether their cases advance WEA’s goals and core values—not on the teacher’s right to representation for dues paid.  Numerous teachers have reported that the union advised that they resign rather than help them with their issues.  At Columbia Basin College, WEA actually negotiated contract language that would have the school pay the union president a $5,000 salary bonus for keeping grievances to a minimum!    

In job protection situations, the teachers union has many options including 1) providing legal representation of the union's choosing; 2) not providing legal assistance but advising the employee to get his/her own attorney; or, 3) encouraging the employee to resign rather than fight for his/her rights. If the teacher’s employment case serves the union’s interests, a member of the bargaining unit may get excellent legal assistance; if not, the teacher may be left with difficult options such as paying for his/her own legal defense or resigning under pressure. 

NWPE’s policy provides coverage at any time, as long as the occurrence that resulted in litigation occurred while the policy was in effect. Members are covered even if they have dropped the coverage—as long as coverage was in force when the incident happened.

NWPE's legal service for job protection is just one reason why both nonunion and union members are joining Northwest Professional Educators!