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Wisconsin Teacher Union Membership
A new report says Wisconsin leads the nation in the number of teachers who have left their union.
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute released a report this week that shows Wisconsin saw the largest drop in teachers union membership since 2012.
“Of course, teacher unions are still a major force in state-level education politics. But as our report demonstrates, they have a more complex landscape to navigate. And for those of us in education reform, the same may be true: Though union interests must still be reckoned with, there are many others with a seat at the table,” the report stated.
Wisconsin is ranked 36th out of 50th when it comes to teacher union strength according to the report.
The Fordham Institute said Wisconsin’s union membership declined from 98% in 2012 to 45% in 2025.
Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed Act-10 in 2011. The Fordham Institute’s last report on teacher union strength was the next year, in 2012.
Before Act-10 many local unions required teachers to join. Act-10 gave teachers a choice.
But while Wisconsin saw a drop in teacher union membership, not all states saw the same.
In fact, the report notes that states like Illinois remain strong unionized states.
"Of the ten states with the strongest teacher unions, eight had Democratic trifectas in 2024—Democratic leadership in the governor’s office and both legislative chambers. Moreover, 13 of the 15 states with the strongest unions went blue in the 2024 presidential election," the report added.
In addition to Wisconsin’s Act-10, the report states that the other, nationwide union choice case Janus, opened the door to ending forced unionization.
"2018's Janus v. AFSCME decision declared union agency fees unconstitutional for public-sector workers, including teachers," the report stated.
Act-10, and its changes for teachers and their unions, have saved Wisconsin taxpayers an estimated $36 billion since it was signed nearly 15-years ago.
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