• Developed & Presented by:• Gary Campbell• CTA Regional UniServ Staff• East County Teachers UniServ

Why Does the Union…?

What did you learn in schoolabout U N I O N S ?

Journey to Respect

• The History of the California Teachers Association– Produced by CTA in

2000– Although names &

positions of CTA leaders in the film have changed, it’s still an excellent overview of CTA’s history.

W A R N I N G !This is a PowerPoint presentation

• Have you ever been asked?

or

• Have you asked yourself…

Why Does the Union…?

Union Reps.Are Frequently Asked…

• Most are not bad teachers.

• Everyone has a right to Representation & to Due Process.

• Union has a legal Duty of Fair Representation.

• “An Injury to One is an Injury to All.”

• The Union Code of Conduct.

Why does the Union defend “bad” teachers?

The Right to Representation

• Ask for a Rep. if:– You believe you are

the focus of a possible disciplinary action.

– You get a final evaluation of unsatisfactory.

– You have a complaint filed against you.

– You have a grievance.

• Union Representation is not automatic.

• You must ask for Union Representation

Don’t Represent Yourself

“…the EERA no longer protects employees who represent themselves individually in their employment with their public school employer.”

-Administrative Law Judge Blubaugh-Woodland Decision

The Right toDue Process

• Was there “Just Cause”?

• Was there a full & fair investigation?

• Was there substantial evidence or proof of guilt?

• Was the rule reasonable, known & applied equally?

• Was there “Progressive Discipline”?

• Does the punishment fit the crime?Based on:

-The seriousness of the offense

-The employee’s past record

PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE: • Verbal Counseling/Warning • Written Warning • Written Reprimand • Suspension Without Pay• Dismissal Warning • Serious nature of offense may allow skipping of

steps • Have right to Association Representation, to Appeal

and/or to Respond in Writing at each step in process

Duty of Fair Representation

QUIZ: What is a BUM?� a. A Brooklyn

Dodger.� b. A hobo.� c. The boy who’s

dating your daughter.

� d. A devotee of the beach.

� e. None of the above.

e. None of the above• Bargaining • Unit • Member:

– Everyone covered by your Contract.

– Listed in Recognition article of the Contract.

– Includes Association mbrs, non-mbrs & agency fee payers.

Duty of Fair Representation

• Must represent all Bargaining Unit Members in Contractual matters:– Association Members– Non-members– Agency Fee Payers– Those liked & disliked– No discrimination of any

kind– Full & fair representation

Duty of Fair Representation

• Negotiations MUSTS:– Negotiate on behalf of all

in the bargaining unit.– Consider views of non-

members & fee payers.– Advise all about their rights

under Contract.– Inform all about negotiated

agreements,• BUT, only members need

vote to ratify Contract.

Duty of Fair Representation• Grievance MUSTS:

– Process grievances in a non-arbitrary, non-discriminatory and good faith manner.

– Know the Contract.

– Investigate grievances.

– Present a good case.

– Maintain timelines.

– Notify of decisions.

Agency Fee Payers & Non-Members• Not members of local,

CTA nor NEA.• No representation on

legal matters.• Cannot vote in union

elections and need not be allowed to vote to ratify the Contract.

• No local association or CTA/NEA automatic or discounted benefits.

An Injury to OneIs an Injury to All

• Means the mistreatment of any individual worker creates the possibility of mistreatment for every worker.

• Creates a balance of power between the employer & the employees.

• Requires workers to support & defend fellow workers when threatened.

• Is the foundation of union solidarity.

• IS THE BASIC PREMISE OF UNIONISM.

The Union Code of Conduct• I will not criticize any

union colleague except directly to that person.

• If any union colleague is being criticized in my presence, I will confront the criticism and ask that it stop.

• I will settle my differences with my colleagues within my union.

• I will not willingly participate in any conversations with management that criticize or negatively speculate about a union colleague.

• I will engage in debate, offer others every opportunity for debate and respect minority viewpoints, but I will support the majority mandate of my union.

Union Reps.Are Frequently Asked…

Political decisions impact almost every aspect of education:– Funding & Budgets– Discipline, Safety & Health

Standards– Class Size & Workload– Curriculum & Testing– Credentialing, Tenure &

Employee Rights– Salary & Health Benefits– Retirement Benefits– Length of Workday/Year– Etc., Etc., Etc.

Why does the union spend money on politics?

Education is Controlledby Politics

Political decisions are made by:

• School Board Members

• Legislators

• The Governor

• State Initiatives

• Congress

• The President

• Etc.

Your Union Uses the Democratic Process to Recommend Candidates

• A panel of union members like you interviews candidates.

• They make recommendations to the policy making body.

• Members you elected vote on the recommendations.

• Think what decisions would be made if we didn’t lobby and support pro-education candidates & issues.

• Members can choose to opt out of having their dues used for political purposes.

NEA’s Presidential Recommendation Process

• All candidates receive questionnaire by mail.

• Videotaped interview.• Evaluated on issues of

public education/kids.• NEA’s PAC & Board

recommend to RA.• 58% of 10,000+ NEA

delegates must concur.

DON’T SIGN PETITIONSThat CTA has not recommended

• Anyone can get propositions on the Calif. ballot by collecting signatures

• Wealthy interests hire professional signature gatherers

• Very costly to continually fight so many bad initiatives

• Some Petitions Currently Out There:– Reduce public pensions &

retirement health benefits– Increase the minimum

retirement age– Make major reductions in

pensions for new teachers– Restrict the right of unions

to spend money to fight bad iniatives and candidates

Union Reps.Are Frequently Asked…

CTA Mission Statement• The California Teachers

Association exists to:• Protect & promote the well-being

of its members,• Improve the conditions of

teaching & learning,• Advance the cause of free,

universal & quality public education,

• Ensure that the human dignity & civil rights of all children & youth are protected,

• Secure a more just, equitable & democratic society.

Why does the Union take positions on

controversial issues?

Controversial Issues

• Policies are voted on by the Policy Making Body

– Local = Rep Council

– CTA = State Council

– NEA = Rep Assembly

• Teachers you elect vote on the policies

• You can run and be elected to the Policy Making Bodies

• Your Association’s policies often withstand the test of time:

• CTA was one of the very few organizations that opposed internment of Japanese-Americans during WW II

• NEA merged with the national association that represented

African-American teachers

Union Reps.Are Frequently Asked…

• Unity is the source of our power.

• By joining together, we can do things that individuals alone cannot do.

• Employers often try to divide us to weaken us.

• When we don’t stand together, we’re likely to fall apart.

Why does the Union focus so much on

solidarity & unity?

We ARE the Union!

• Webster’s New World Dictionary:– Uniting or being together– A grouping together

• The most important letters in “UNION” are:

U ‘N I• Instead of saying, “Why

doesn’t the union…?”,• We should be saying

“Why don’t we…?”

UnityUnitySolidaritySolidarity

RespectRespect

Union Reps.Are Frequently Asked…

Why does the Union always raise Hell?

We don’t raise Hell. We manage it!

I don’t mind being called an “Agitator”…

• The agitator is the part of the washer that gets the dirt out.– Jim Hightower

– Radio Talk Show Host

In Closing:Consider the Hammer

• It keeps its head.• It doesn’t fly off the handle.• It keeps pounding away.• It finds the point, then drives it home.• It looks at the other side too and this often

clinches the matter.• It makes mistakes, but when it does, it starts

all over.

Consider the Hammer

• It is the only knocker in the world that does any good.

• If you are inclined to lose your head and fly off the handle…

• CONSIDER THE HAMMER!» From a plaque constructed by:

Martin Hunting Retired Woodshop Teacher & Counselor Mar Vista MS, Sweetwater HS District, CA

What other “Why Does the Union…?” questions would you like

to see in this presentation?

Where Could You Use These Materials?

• New Teacher Workshops

• New Leadership Trainings

• Rep Trainings• During Political

Campaigns• When Controversial

Positions are Taken

• Etc.U N I O NU N I O N