Union Watchdog Group Sues Utah Education Association

A watchdog group focused on unions has teamed up with some teachers in Utah to file a lawsuit against the Utah Education Association (UEA). They claim that the UEA has been inaccurately stating that members’ dues aren’t used for political campaigns.

The UEA is essentially the state branch of the National Education Association (NEA), which is known as the largest teachers union in the U.S. One of the teachers involved in this lawsuit is Cole Kelly, who has spent 29 years in the classroom and is a Republican member of the Utah State Board of Education. He’s joining forces with the Freedom Foundation, an organization that aims to protect public servants from political manipulation, often through legal means.

This lawsuit was brought to Utah’s Third District Court, asserting that the UEA has made misleading claims on its website and social media, suggesting that “UEA membership dues are never used for political activities.”

The Freedom Foundation notes that this statement appeared online around March 26, 2025. They also reached out to the UEA on May 1, 2017, to inform them that their assertion was false and ran contrary to Utah’s Truthful Advertising Act.

Shortly after, the UEA adjusted its statement to clarify that “UEA membership dues are never used to benefit political parties or candidates,” according to the lawsuit. However, the Freedom Foundation maintains that even this amended statement is misleading.

Kelly expressed to Fox News that they are looking to uncover the truth behind the UEA’s funding practices. The lawsuit is only asking for $2,000 in damages from both Kelly and the Freedom Foundation.

“I think it’s high time UEA comes clean with Utah’s teachers about their operations and political leanings,” Kelly noted, mentioning that the union tends to lean left.

He emphasized that teachers should be aware that their contributions can actually support political actions.

The complaint points to multiple instances where the UEA and NEA supposedly funded political contributions through dues. The lawsuit specifically mentions that in April 2025, UEA donated over $30,000 to a political committee named Protect Utah Workers.

A portion of dues collected by UEA goes to NEA, which allegedly also pursues political agenda items.

The lawsuit argues that UEA’s claims are false because members pay a unified fee which is then allocated among local NEA affiliates, UEA, and NEA itself. It contends that, to UEA’s knowledge, a share of those dues is used to both support and oppose various political parties and candidates, spending millions each year—mostly through the NEA Advocacy Fund.

It’s indicated in the lawsuit that NEA, in a similar month, contributed about $35,000 to Utah Worker Protection, dispersed in multiple payments.

Maxford Nelsen, the director of research at the Freedom Foundation, remarked that unions like UEA frequently utilize political action funds funded by voluntary donations from members to divert attention from how dues might be allocated for political purposes.

Kelly noted that UEA’s political stance became a factor when he was running as a Republican for the State Board of Education.

“There’s no doubt they lean left. Just look at their financial contributions, especially at the NEA level—they tend to support Democratic candidates much more so than Republicans,” he stated.

He went on to express his frustration, asserting that the information given to union members is often not candid or truthful, leaning toward half-truths and sometimes outright falsehoods.

Ryan Walters, a former Oklahoma State Superintendent who now leads the Teacher Freedom Alliance—a new organization offering an alternative to traditional unions—said the lawsuit reveals the practices of teacher unions that have been concealed for years. He called for accountability, asserting that these activities undermine American principles.

In response to the lawsuit, UEA stated that it doesn’t comment on ongoing legal matters, while the NEA has not offered any comments as of yet.