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UTLA candidates debate big issues — including idea of a strike
Presidential candidates in the race to lead the United Teachers of Los Angeles faced tough questions and a rowdy audience last night, in the second forum of the campaign season. It was the first time all 10 candidates — Alex Caputo-Pearl, the incumbent Warren Fletcher, Bill Gaffney, David Garcia, Saul Lankster, Kevin Mottus, Marcos Ortega II, Innocent Osunwa, Leonard Segal and Gregg Solkovitz...
By Vanessa Romo | February 19, 2014
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In race to run powerful teachers union: ideology up for grabs
As campaigning begins in earnest at United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), the second-largest teachers union in the country, the election for the presidency could be as much about ideology as which candidate has more foot-soldiers. The union has shown signs of deep fracture lately, and with just 20 percent of the union’s 35,000 members expected...
By Vanessa Romo | February 11, 2014
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UTLA tax return offers glimpse behind the curtain
The latest IRS tax filing for UTLA, the nation’s second largest teachers union, was made public this week on its website, providing a look into the financial health of the powerful union. For the year ending August, 2012 (the most recent available), the union reported a 2.5 percent drop in total revenue, and a 4...
By LA School Report | February 6, 2014
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Union candidates gang up on Fletcher and, of course, Deasy
The Los Angeles teachers union election process is long – from February to July – and a lot like a reality show, with multiple voting rounds to knock out candidates/contestants, until finally, there’s only one person left standing. That’s especially true in the race for UTLA president, which has 10 men competing for the chance...
By Vanessa Romo | January 31, 2014
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Fletcher challengers for UTLA top job campaigning online
Candidates in a crowded field to take the top spot at one of the nation’s most powerful teachers union, UTLA, are angling to distinguish themselves online. An online search finds that four of the 10 running, Gregg Solkovits, Alex Caputo-Pearl, Saul Lankster and Bill Gafney, have established a website presence, announcing their candidacies and platforms. UTLA...
By Chase Niesner | January 29, 2014
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Fletcher joining challengers at union forum next week*
Another name to add to the candidates for UTLA president participating in a forum next week: UTLA President Warren Fletcher. The event is scheduled to begin at 4 o’clock next Thursday at Thomas Starr King Middle School. Wil Page, the school’s chapter chair, says Fletcher has agreed to join six other confirmed candidates — Kevin Mottus, Gregg...
By LA School Report | January 24, 2014
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First forum set for UTLA president candidates, 5 in so far
Some of the names and faces might be not be familiar, but five of the 10 candidates running for president of the teachers union, UTLA, have agreed to participate in a candidate forum next Thursday, Jan. 30th at Thomas Starr King Middle School. Click here for announcement. Wil Page, the school’s chapter chair, said in...
By LA School Report | January 23, 2014
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It’s official: Fletcher has 9 challengers for union presidency
The filing deadline for candidates seeking office in the LA teachers union has closed, and it now appears that the number of challengers to the incumbent president, Warren Fletcher, has increased by one, to nine, all of them men. The latest to join the race for a three-year term is Innocent O. Osunwa, a labor...
By LA School Report | January 22, 2014
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Teachers union offers reasons for pay hike demand
The LA teachers union, UTLA, just released a statement, explaining a decision made last night to seek a 17.6 percent raise raise for teachers and other LA Unified employees. The release does not specify a time frame for the salary demands. What follows is the full text of the statement: “UTLA is tired of LAUSD’s...
By LA School Report | January 16, 2014
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Teachers union set to demand salary hike of 17.6 percent
The UTLA House of Representatives last night voted to demand a significant salary hike for teachers — an increase of nearly 20 percent. Teachers last received a pay raise in early 2007; their last contract with LA Unified expired in 2011. The union says higher salaries are long overdue, especially since voters passed Prop. 30...
By Vanessa Romo | January 16, 2014