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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Steve Lopez on LAUSD and UTLA: Dissident L.A. teachers want more from UTLA - latimes.com

Steve Lopez on LAUSD and UTLA: Dissident L.A. teachers want more from UTLA - latimes.com

Dissident L.A. teachers want more from their union

NewTLA, a pro-union faction, works for reform within the organization.


Quietly and carefully, a movement of dissident teachers has been taking shape within United Teachers Los Angeles. It began last fall, with e-mails and telephone calls among a group of disaffected and disappointed teachers. By year's end, some 50 of them had volunteered to become official members of UTLA's policy-making body, the House of Representatives.

On Jan. 8, the group held its first strategy session. At the meeting, which I attended, teachers shared their grievances with both UTLA and LAUSD and talked about their plan to lobby for dramatic changes in union leadership and focus.

They've even named their fledgling caucus: NewTLA.

"I think there is a silent majority of teachers who are very frustrated with the status quo," Mike