Why Join Teachers’ Unions?
The Benefits of Belonging
There has never been a more challenging or exciting time to be a teacher in the United States. Conversations about everything from national security to the economy eventually find their way to the education of our nation’s young people. The state of American schools is a top priority for most of the presidential candidates in this election campaign. In the current climate, few professions are receiving as much attention — or are subject to as much accountability — as teachers.
Because of this focus on teaching, there has been much talk about the role teacher unions play in education quality. Teacher unions have their supporters and critics, but I won’t use this space to air the debate between these groups, as most pundits opining on the issue have spent little, if any, time in the classroom. The bottom line is this: There is no better vehicle for improving teaching and learning than an active local teacher union.
Many teachers, when presented the opportunity to join a union, decline because they consider unions necessary only for handling labor disputes or disciplinary actions. And while it is true that union contracts provide for due process and other worker protections, these agreements between teachers and school districts also provide for conditions that have nothing to do with on-the-job problems. They address working conditions such as manageable class sizes, adequate teaching materials, and discipline policies that support teaching and enhance student learning. These are all critical factors in ensuring that the best teachers remain in the classroom.
Improving teaching and learning environments is particularly critical in what the AFT refers to as “hard-to-staff” schools. These tend to be schools in impoverished communities where working conditions are extremely challenging and teachers rely on unions to advocate for everything from improving building conditions to advanced classroom management training. The American Federation of Teachers and other unions are leading the way in figuring out how to recruit and retain top teachers for these schools.
There are several other reasons to join unions, not the least of which is ensuring competitive compensation for teachers. No one enters the teaching profession without a strong desire to help children reach their potential. Yet, at times, the realities of life make this calling difficult to stick with. Adequate salaries and benefits are essential to keep the best teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff in our public schools.
Teacher unions know effective learning only takes place when highly qualified teachers, supported by competent professionals, have the materials and assistance they need. Unions are strong advocates for quality classroom materials aligned with the achievement standards we expect our students to meet. Unions also insist that state and district assessments of student progress be aligned with these standards, and that the assessments be used appropriately to support student learning.
Lack of meaningful professional development is one of the top job-related frustrations reported by teachers. No matter how well-prepared you may have been before entering the classroom, there is always room for improvement. Ongoing professional development is vital for continued growth as an educator. AFT and its affiliates deliver some of the finest professional development programs available; and in situations where ours are not available, we advocate and broker teachers to receive the best training possible.
Unions are the voice of teachers on local education matters. Whether the discussion is taking place in the White House, in the halls of Congress, on the floor of statehouses, in colleges and universities or on your local editorial pages, you can be sure that union representatives are weighing in, ensuring that the collective voice of educators comes through.
Like any organization, a union is only as strong and effective as its members. It isn’t enough to join a union and expect its leaders to do all the work. For the union to be most effective, its rank-and-file members must be actively involved. Union members are encouraged to become active participants once they join.
It’s an obvious truth that teachers are the most important in-school element of a child’s education. As professionals who spend their days with students, teacher are more qualified than any other group to participate in the national dialogue on education. And our children need experienced, well-trained and dedicated teachers to enter — and stay in — the classroom. Unfortunately, one of the main reasons teachers cite for leaving the profession is the feeling that they don’t have a voice in education decisions. Joining and participating in a local union is one of the best things teachers can do to ensure their voices are heard.
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The AFT represents 1.4 million pre-K-12 teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; nurses and healthcare workers; and federal, state and local government employees. For more information on the AFT and the benefits of membership, visit http://www.aft.org/about.
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