Substitute membership
A teacher or education support professional employed on a day-to-day basis is eligible for a substitute membership if the position is in a Minnesota public school district, higher education institution, or charter school and is in a bargaining unit represented by Education Minnesota.
Substitute members do not have voting or governance rights.
Of note: Teacher or faculty member employed as long-term substitutes (LTS) for an absent teacher or faculty member for more than 30 working days are members of the bargaining unit.
Teacher or faculty employed as a long-term substitute (LTS), are members of the bargaining unit as soon as the employer knows that the position they are working in has existed or will exist for more than 30 days. They are eligible to join as active members at that time, or when they work more than 30 days, whichever is sooner.
For example, a LTS teacher or faculty whose assignment is 35 days is in the bargaining unit on day one.
A LTS teacher or faculty whose original assignment is 20 days, but was extended to 40 days on day 19, is in the bargaining unit on day 19.
In either case, the entire assignment must be to replace the same absent teacher.
ESPs employed as long-term subs (LTS) are members of the bargaining unit as soon as the employer knows that the position they are working in has existed or will exist for more than 67 days. They are eligible to join as active members at that time or when they work more than 67 days, whichever is sooner.
For example, a substitute ESP who is employed to cover a permanent ESP, who is out on leave or will be out on leave for more than 67 days, is in the bargaining unit on day one.
The $55 non-refundable substitute membership dues include membership in the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and Education Minnesota as well as the following benefits:
- $1 million liability insurance coverage for employment-related claims.
- Employment related legal services
- Field staff assistance
- Professional development
- ONLY workshops available at the annual Minnesota Educator Academy conference held in mid-October.
- National and state publications
- Member benefits
- For more information on voluntary member benefits contact ESI at 651-292-4856, 800-642-4624 or esi@edmn.org.
