The Nevada Policy Research Institute and the Association of American Educators are again sponsoring National Employee Freedom Week, which they started in 2012. Fully 81 organizations in 45 states are joining the effort:

National Employee Freedom Week is a national effort to inform union employees about the freedoms they have to opt out of union membership and let them make the decision that's best for them. … Employees in Right-to-Work states have the freedom to leave their union entirely – with no loss of employment, salaries, benefits or seniority. Although, the choice of workers in non-Right-to-Work states about whether or not to leave a union entirely is restricted, these employees can choose to become agency fee payers or identify as a religious/conscientious objector.

This is a critical issue for millions of American employees, including teachers, who want more freedom to choose what—if any—professional organization to join. Fully 29 percent of current members would leave their unions as long as they didn’t lose their jobs, and 83 percent of Americans believe workers should have the right to leave their unions if they wish.

The NEFW campaign has also had a significant impact. In Nevada alone, as the Wall Street Journal reports:

“I think there is great value in raising the awareness,” said Victor Joecks, executive vice president of the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a libertarian think tank behind the campaign.  The institute began running its own campaign in 2012 informing  teachers in Las Vegas how to leave their union, and  expanded the effort last year to include other Nevada cities.  In Nevada, “We’ve helped 1,450 teachers leave their union in the last two years,” said Mr. Joecks, who said this reduced the amount of union dues collected by more than $1.1 million a year.

No one should be forced to join—and pay dues to—any organization. Hopefully more individuals will become aware of their rights—and exercise them.