Teacher sues union over violation of her rights based on her pro-life stance

A school teacher is suing the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the largest teachers’ union in the state, because she says they have violated her First Amendment rights.

Linda Misja, a French and English teacher for 37 years, told Watchdog that as a Roman Catholic she does not agree with the political and social policies that the union supports, which include pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood. She does not want any of her money going to such organizations and voiced that to the PSEA. Because of this, the PSEA allowed her to join the union and apply for a religious waiver.

According to Watchdog, the religious waiver would allow Misja’s dues to be donated to charities of her choice. However, Misja says that the PSEA would not accept any of her charity choices claiming that those charities were too religious, including the pro-life group People Concerned for the Unborn Child.

“The union wrote me a letter and said I cannot put my money there,” Misja told Watchdog. “They said it furthers my religious beliefs. I don’t know how. I’ve read their website and I don’t see that it is religious. It is a moral group, yes, but it doesn’t mention religion anywhere.”

Misja says the PSEA then asked her to give her money to an abortion clinic. She refused. She asked for the money to go to the National Rifle Association Foundation, which the union called “too political” she said.

As of right now, $2,000 of Misja’s money is sitting in an account as she and the union debate on where the money should be sent.