It would be stupid to leave the union. They are the ones who negotiate your contracts and defend you if needed. Furthermore, you pay union dues in your paycheck whether you are a member or not.

I think you can refuse to join a union without too much trouble. The problems that you may encounter is that you will have no one to support you if you “get into trouble” with administration or students. They aren’t going to be there to back you up or provide legal help to you. I don’t know how it affects your pay scale, or if the administration could pay you less that the set scale. I guess I’m not the best person to be answering this question. I always join the union because if there is a question of let’s say a bad evaluation I get, then I know the union will send a representative with me that will protect my rights. Hope this helps a little.

In my school district you don’t pay union dues unless you join the union — they do not make you pay dues just because you are hired — that’s illegal.