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Monday, July 18, 2011

Jim Newton: A new voice atop L.A.'s teachers union - latimes.com

Jim Newton: A new voice atop L.A.'s teachers union - latimes.com

Newton: A new voice L.A.'s teachers union

New UTLA President Warren Fletcher is a welcome change from his predecessor. But he has his work cut out for him to save his union.

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United Teachers of Los Angeles president Warren Fletcher, left, listens as outgoing president A.J. Duffy, right, speaks about retiring teacher Jimmie Woods-Gray at the Los Angeles City Council meeting on June 24. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

United Teachers of Los Angeles president Warren Fletcher, left, listens as outgoing president A.J. Duffy, right, speaks about retiring teacher Jimmie Woods-Gray at the Los Angeles City Council meeting on June 24. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Warren Fletcher wrapped up his work three weeks ago as an English teacher at City of Angels and moved over to the headquarters of United Teachers Los Angeles, where he is the union's new president. He missed his first negotiating session because he had to finish grading papers, and arrived at the union's imposing if slightly run-down mid-rise in Mid-Wilshire with so little fanfare that many people didn't even know he'd taken office. But Fletcher's soft start should not fool anyone: With his election, he has become one of the region's most formidable political