Teacher Unions File Suit Over Paycheck Protection
Two Oklahoma teachers unions file lawsuit to overturn new state law
by Kathryn McNutt
A lawsuit filed Tuesday in Oklahoma County District Court seeks to overturn a new law that prohibits school districts from deducting union dues from teachers’ paychecks. The legislation passed this year and takes effect Nov. 1.
The Oklahoma Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers Oklahoma filed the lawsuit, along with one member from each organization. They said the law is unconstitutional and should not be enforced. Defendants in the lawsuit are the Oklahoma City Public Schools and Preston Doerflinger, director of the state Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
“Mr. Doerflinger is sued in his official capacity only,” the lawsuit states. The agency administers payroll deductions for state employees.
Office of Management and Enterprise Services spokesman John Estus said the attorney general’s office would represent Doerflinger in such a lawsuit and would be the appropriate office to comment on the case.