Two public school teachers have filed a lawsuit against the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) and its former president, Sean M. Spiller, alleging that the union improperly funneled millions of dollars in mandatory membership dues into political groups that backed Spiller’s unsuccessful run for governor.

The complaint, filed September 30 in Mercer County Superior Court, accuses the NJEA of breaching contracts with members, misleading teachers about how dues would be spent, and violating fiduciary duties by channeling money into political action committees. Plaintiffs Marie Dupont, a Roselle Public Schools teacher, and Ann Marie Pocklembo, a longtime Hamilton Township Schools educator, claim the union’s actions contradicted years of assurances that only voluntary contributions, not regular dues, would fund political causes.

According to the filing, the alleged misuse occurred in 2024 and 2025, when the NJEA transferred more than $40 million in member dues to Garden State Forward, a political action committee under its control. The money was then directed to other groups, including Protecting Our Democracy and Working New Jersey, which financed Spiller’s 2025 Democratic primary campaign for governor. Spiller announced his candidacy in June 2024, shortly after completing his term as Mayor of Montclair, and continued serving as NJEA president throughout his campaign. The complaint alleges that he approved the transfer of funds months before announcing his candidacy and also chaired one of the committees that received the money, creating what the plaintiffs describe as a conflict of interest and self-dealing.

The filing also highlights Spiller’s past ethics concerns during his time in public office. A court previously removed him from the Montclair Board of School Estimate after finding that his role as an NJEA executive conflicted with his municipal duties. Later, voters curtailed the mayor’s authority to appoint school board members due to similar concerns about his ties to the union.

The lawsuit further claims that the NJEA concealed the existence of Garden State Forward from its members for more than a decade. The union allegedly omitted the PAC from its website, meeting minutes, and budget materials, while misreporting contributions on federal tax filings. Dupont and Pocklembo state that when they joined the NJEA, they specifically declined to authorize voluntary PAC contributions, relying on assurances that dues would be used for member services rather than political campaigns.

Despite the financial backing, Spiller’s campaign ended in defeat in the June 2025 Democratic primary. The complaint states that he finished fifth, leaving teachers’ dues spent on a failed political bid they did not support.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages, an accounting of how the NJEA spent dues in 2024 and 2025, attorneys’ fees, and other relief.

The NJEA has not yet filed a response in court.