Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of NEA and AFT that is included in the candidates’ description?

Many people are confused when election time roles around and it suddenly matters if they are members of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) or the National Education Association (NEA). Most of us function quite well without know what all the letters mean because UTLA is a merged union. When you joined you had to choose one or the other and except for the magazines you receive from the national and state affiliates it doesn’t impact you as a member unless you want to run as a representative at the state or national level. The California state affiliate for AFT is the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) and the NEA state affiliate is the California Teachers Association (CTA).

As a merged local, however, it does matter who our representatives are especially our NEA and AFT Vice Presidents. They need to have strong contacts and relationships with the state and national organizations so UTLA has a strong voice when decisions are made in those organizations. NEA and AFT affiliation also is important in the election of UTLA Area Directors.

Based on the approximate number of UTLA members who are NEA there are three NEA Directors and AFT has one. That means that an AFT member would vote for AFT Vice President and would not vote for the NEA Vice President. They would vote for only one or the four directors. For the NEA member the opposite is true. They only vote for the NEA Vice President and the three NEA director positions. If you look at your Area on this web site you will see the NEA is red and AFT is blue. The AFT and NEA Vice Presidents are also designated using either a blue or red background.

All members vote for the other city-wide positions: President, Elementary and Secondary Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. They are on a green background.

The candidates with the purple background will only be on your ballot if you are a member of that constituency. Adult and Early Education teachers vote for their respective directors. Teachers at year round school will vote for that position. Bilingual and Special Education teachers are generally identified by their job code but if they were hired and later became credentialed with a BCLAD or a special Education credential then you might want to contact UTLA and make sure you receive the appropriate ballot. You should do that immediately. If you are not a member of any of these groups you don’t vote for any of the candidates with a purple background.

How can I compare the two slates?

The upcoming UTLA elections give our members the unprecedented opportunity to choose between two slates led by candidates with very different track records in key issues. Duffy and United Action have been leading UTLA since 2005. Linda Guthrie and Alberto Valdivia, who head Unite to Lead, were an integral part of the John Perez administration as UTLA officers from 2002-2005.

Issues
  • Duffy and United Action
Guthrie and Valdiva
Salary
  • Won 8 ½ % over 2 years
Settled for 2% over 2 years
Health Care Benefits
  • Maintained health care benefits for three years
In May 2003 tried unsuccessfully to sell health care benefits concessions to UTLA Board of Directors
Class Size
  • Won first ever class size reduction and class size cap
  • Launched campaign to cap PE class size

Failed to stop class size increases

Failed to make class size reduction a bargaining priority

BTS Payroll Nightmare
  • Filed lawsuit against District
  • Pounded District in media
  • Mobilized members at LAUSD and DeLoitte to demand correct paychecks
  • Initiated no and low interest loans with California Credit Union
  • Deployed UTLA officers, staff and resources to assist members

Guthrie, Valdivia and Perez went along with the payroll switch on their watch, without protest.

Failed to raise alarm on previous DeLoitte and SAP failures

Curriculum
  • Reduced periodic assessments in elementary
Accepted District’s view that curriculum is off the table in contract negotiations
SLC’s
  • Insisted on 2/3 rd faculty vote to enter SLC
  • Fighting to ensure all contractual rights protected
Guthrie wrote the SLC contract language gutting schoolwide seniority rights
Teacher Empowerment
  • Won right to appeal waiver denials
  • Negotiated Belmont Zone of Choice agreement for school autonomy
Opposes schools entering into Innovation Division which gives schools autonomy over curriculum, assessments, budgets, etc.

Creating a fighting union

  • Organized largest demonstrations in years
  • Initiated first ever issues campaign to find out what members want in their contract
  • Directed union resources to organize union from the bottom up
  • Developed unprecedented ties with community groups and other unions

Organized NO demonstrations during 22 month contract negotiations resulting in 2% pay increase

 


Click here for a printer friendly version of this comparison!

What can I do to help get out the vote?
  1. Write a letter of endorsement to your staff
  2. Invite your staff to a candidate forum (UTLA sponsored forums: 6pm 2/4 Cleveland HS, 2/7 UTLA, 2/11 White MS)
  3. Invite a candidate to come speak at your school (email oudovic@gmail.com to schedule a United Action candidate visit)
  4. Post and Distribute candidate fliers to your staff
  5. Hold a voting party at your school site (invite teachers to bring their ballots to work and vote together– that way no one accidentally forgets!)
  6. Hang posters reminding teachers of voting deadlines
  7. Talk it up! Talk to teachers about the issues, candidates & importance of voting during lunch, recess or free periods
  8. Wear your United Action button (a fashionable reminder!)
  9. Hold a phone calling party to call up any off-track teachers and remind them to vote or Participate in a United Action phone calling party and most importantly...
  10. Hold a chapter meeting!

Invite your staff to a special UTLA chapter meeting where you can debate and discuss the candidates and issues involved in the election. Some ideas to help make your meeting a success:

  • Bring food!
  • Have campaign materials available for as many candidates as possible
  • Invite staff members to speak on behalf of candidates they support
  • Discuss the issues; use the United Action comparison flier or other campaign materials to discuss the records of the various candidates
  • Clearly post and remind people of ballot deadlines and voting party date
  • Invite staff members to join you in phonebanking for the United Action candidates so they feel even more connected to the campaign

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