Teachers Say NJEA Misled and Betrayed Members

In a lawsuit filed in Mercer County, Roselle teacher Dr. Marie Dupont and Hamilton Township teacher Ann Marie Pocklembo claim NJEA leaders broke their membership contracts, misrepresented political giving, and violated their fiduciary duty to members. The lawsuit alleges that teachers were told contributions to the union’s PAC were optional, but that NJEA insiders quietly funneled mandatory dues into political organizations to bankroll Spiller’s gubernatorial ambitions.

“When I signed my union membership card, I chose not to support the union’s PAC,” said Dupont, a mother of three and teacher for nearly two decades. “Then I discovered that $40 million of teachers’ dues—including mine—had been used for the union president’s campaign. That’s wrong, and I believe it’s illegal.”

Dupont has since resigned her NJEA membership.

Pocklembo, a teacher for 30 years, said: “It’s an obvious conflict of interest when the union president benefits from backroom deals to fund his own campaign with members’ money. It undermines trust and damages the union’s credibility.”

The Shell Game: Dues to PACs to Campaign

The lawsuit outlines how NJEA officials created and controlled Garden State Forward, a political entity funded with dues. That group then sent $40 million to Working New Jersey and Protecting Our Democracy, both run by union insiders, who used the money to promote Spiller’s campaign.

Despite the extraordinary spending, Spiller finished fifth in the Democratic primary, earning fewer than 90,000 votes. The cost amounted to over $400 per vote.

“This is textbook self-dealing,” said Nathan McGrath, president and general counsel of the Fairness Center, which represents the teachers. “The NJEA diverted mandatory dues into its president’s political campaign while misleading members into believing political giving was optional. That’s a breach of contract and a breach of trust.”

Think Tank Seeks Federal and State Investigations

The New Jersey Policy Institute (NJPI), also represented by the Fairness Center, filed complaints with both the IRS and the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).

The IRS complaint argues that NJEA failed to disclose millions in political expenditures on its required tax forms, violating federal law. The ELEC complaint alleges the union evaded New Jersey’s $5,800 campaign contribution limit by splitting donations between multiple affiliated entities, giving Spiller’s campaign a combined $11,600.

“Union officials don’t get a pass on election or tax law,” said Rosemary Becchi, NJPI president. “We believe NJEA used a web of organizations to conceal its political spending and benefit its president personally. Teachers and taxpayers deserve accountability.”

The Stakes

The lawsuit, Dupont & Pocklembo v. NJEA & Spiller, seeks a ruling that the union violated its contract with members, made misrepresentations, and breached its fiduciary responsibilities. NJPI’s complaints ask for state and federal investigations into what could be one of the largest hidden diversions of union dues in New Jersey history.

At stake are thousands of teachers’ dues dollars, originally believed to support education, but allegedly redirected to political ambitions. The outcome could reshape trust in one of New Jersey’s most powerful political organizations.

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Call to Action: If you have additional information regarding NJEA, Sean Spiller, or union dues misuse, contact Leroy Truth Investigations.
• Corruption Tips Hotline: 305-707-8325
• Email: LeroyTruth247@gmail.com
• Mailing Address: Leroy Truth – P.O. Box 3464, Stamford, CT 06905

The post NJ Teachers File Lawsuit: $40 Million in Union Dues Secretly Bankrolled NJEA President’s Failed Run for Governor first appeared on HUDTRUTH.