A two-week window each July lets teachers leave their union, and Ford's biggest promise to repeal Right To Work still couldn't buy back the largest teachers group in the state.
Attorney General Aaron Ford has spent months working the union circuit.
He sat down with construction workers on the GangboX podcast and promised to sign a repeal of Nevada's Right To Work (RTW) law his very first term.
He picked up the Nevada State AFL-CIO's endorsement. He's made himself the most union-friendly candidate for governor Nevada has seen in years.
And the Clark County Education Association, the largest teachers union in the state, endorsed Joe Lombardo anyway.
That's the story worth sitting with. Ford's headline promise to organized labor, killing RTW so unions can require dues from every worker they represent, wasn't enough to pull in the very union representing the teachers who'd benefit most from mandatory membership.
CCEA President Marie Neisess called working with Lombardo “a true partnership” and said he'd:
“earned to be elected for a second term.”
That's a remarkable snub for a Democrat courting labor as hard as Ford has.
What Right to Work Actually Protects
Nevada's RTW law says no worker, teacher included, can be forced to join a union or pay its dues just to keep a job.
It's why nearly half of Clark County's 19,495 licensed teachers currently work without paying CCEA a dime. Every July 1 through July 15, teachers get a two-week window to formally leave the union.
Miss it, and they're locked into another year of dues.
Ford wants that law gone. Repeal it, and the leverage behind that opt-out window disappears with it.
Why CCEA Still Chose Lombardo
Lombardo delivered a $2.5 billion increase in K-12 funding, teacher pay raises, and school accountability measures, working directly with the union on legislation.
Neisess said Lombardo helped ensure:
“all students have an opportunity to receive a quality education in Nevada.”
For CCEA, tangible wins at the bargaining table apparently mattered more than a repeal promise aimed at boosting union revenue.
Nevada's other major teachers group, the Nevada State Education Association, did endorse Ford, but CCEA represents more members and more classrooms in the state's biggest district.
What Critics Say
Ford's campaign frames RTW repeal as pro-worker, arguing it strengthens unions' ability to bargain for everyone.
Union allies like Communication Workers Local 9413's Marc Ellis have praised Ford's stance directly.
Business groups and Lombardo counter that right to work protects individual choice and keeps Nevada's economy competitive, pointing to CCEA's own decision as proof that results matter more than promises.
What You Can Do
Ask teachers you know if they realize what's riding on this race.
Learn where legislative candidates stand on RTW before Election Day.
Nonprofit think tank Nevada Policy and Teacher Freedom both offer information on current opt-out rights for teachers who want to understand what's at stake before it potentially changes.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
