For decades, teacher unions have used political power and bargaining to exert control over school systems, but now Democrats are embracing policies that challenge this, and Republicans have successfully weakened labor laws in former bastions of union strength, writes Sarah Butrymowicz in The Hechinger Report. On top of this, a new generation of teachers questions the old way of doing things, generating dissent within the ranks. Whereas negotiations and political fights between teacher unions and management once centered on benefits and school funding, unions are battling to bargain for benefits at all, and warding off reform efforts that could undermine union power. Approval ratings for unions have been at their lowest point in history for the past four years, and conservatives predict teacher unions will soon go the way of their private-sector counterparts: present, but weak and small. Butrymowicz thinks teacher unions will survive, but not without making concessions and carefully juggling the demands of members and opponents alike. Both the NEA and AFT are attempting to transform themselves into organizations that once again direct the conversation on public education. The AFT is focusing on state and local issues, spending less time and money in Washington, D.C., and the NEA is investing millions of dollars on its own education reforms, such as turning around schools and providing professional development to members. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities.