The Decatur Daily reports that since the Alabama State Legislature banned teachers from having their union dues deducted from their paychecks, the membership registration in the Alabama Education Association has dropped.

AEA representatives say membership is running at about 85 percent of pre-ban levels. Mary Bruce Ogle, AEA's assistant executive secretary, says she's "pleased" with the numbers -- though the group had hoped to hit 95 percent.

Ogle's comment is in keeping with the AEA's stiff-upper-lip approach since the ban was passed. While AEA representatives have denounced the deduction ban as an attack on their group, they've insisted repeatedly that they'll find some way to keep up the group's membership numbers.

AEA filed a lawsuit to stop the deduction ban in federal court last week.

From The Decatur Daily -- Sign-up numbers pleasing to AEA