Utah Teacher, Watchdog Sue State Union Over Alleged False Claims on Political Spending

A long‑time Utah teacher and state school‑board member, Cole Kelley, and the Freedom Foundation have filed a lawsuit in Utah’s 3rd District Court accusing the Utah Education Association (UEA) of falsely assuring members that their dues are never used for political activities. The complaint cites UEA website and social‑media statements around March 26, 2025 saying that 'UEA member dues are never used for political activities,' later revised to say dues are never used for 'political parties or candidates,' and argues both versions are misleading under the Utah Truth in Advertising Act. They point to more than $30,000 in UEA contributions and roughly $35,000 in National Education Association (NEA) contributions to the Utah political committee Protect Utah Workers in April 2025, along with NEA spending through its Advocacy Fund, as evidence that unified dues support partisan political work. The suit alleges UEA members pay a single dues stream that is apportioned among local, state and national affiliates, with the NEA using its share for millions in political expenditures each year. Kelley says he wants teachers to understand 'your dollars are going towards supporting these political activities,' while the plaintiffs seek modest statutory damages of $2,000 each but frame the case as a test of union transparency about political spending.