GET REAL, TEACHERS WHY GIVE RAISE TO THOSE PRODUCING FAULTY `MERCHANDISE'? VALLEY Edition

It seems ironic that a union that boasts itself to be different than the traditional teacher labor union is undertaking the most traditional of labor union tactics. The UTLA belongs to TURN, the Teacher Union Reform Network, which "recognizes that the past adversarial relationship among union l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhiladelphia daily news (Philadelphia, Pa. : 1925)
Main Author Seder, Richard C
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, Calif Los Angeles Newspaper Group 11.04.2000
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Summary:It seems ironic that a union that boasts itself to be different than the traditional teacher labor union is undertaking the most traditional of labor union tactics. The UTLA belongs to TURN, the Teacher Union Reform Network, which "recognizes that the past adversarial relationship among union leaders, teachers, and administrators must be replaced with a compact that says we are all in this together." In addition to the demands for an across-the-board pay raise, the UTLA is also demanding that the steps to higher salary levels be cut. Currently, teachers are paid according to a universal salary schedule that is based on their experience (number of years teaching) and number of years of education (college grad, master's degree, etc.). No matter the quality of the teachers; two teachers that have the same number of years of teaching and education levels will be paid the same. UTLA is pushing to allow all teachers - good and bad, with less experience and education - to be paid more without any concern for their teaching effectiveness with children. In doing so, the UTLA initiative further erodes the connection between performance and pay.