Teacher 's Job As A Professional Occupation

The NEA and the AFT represent millions of teachers throughout the country. Moe indicates that teachers unions are known has political powerhouses which contribute millions of dollars to campaign contributions and lobbying. Fortune Magazine has consistently ranked National Education Association in the top 15 of its Washington Power 25 list for influence in the nation’s capital. The American Federation of Teachers along with the National Education Association has given more than $60 million combined in campaign contributions over the last 20 years (Moe 267). Ballot initiatives that are created in to order to begin school reform usually are defeated because their huge sums of moneys that come from these unions in order to defeat a ballot that can jeopardize a teacher’s job. Let’s keep in mind that unions are designed to protect the interest of the teachers, unions are not designed to help the interest of children. The unions use this money mostly to demand special interest for the teachers, such as imposing a structure at the workplace giving teacher’s rights and restricting managerial control. Teacher unions are by far the most powerful forces in American education and use their power to promote their own special interests at any expense.

57). In December 1886, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed in Columbus, Ohio. The AFL was originally named the Federated Organization of Trades and Labor Union back in 1881. The AFL was a “national union made up of affiliated, individual craft unions” (Boone, 1996, p. 288). The first president of the AFL was Samuel Gompers. On the contrary to the Knights of Labor, Gompers’ focus was to raise day-to-day wages, and continue to improve the working conditions (Dessler, 1997). After the formation of the AFL, the period included significant developments. In the early 1890’s, the United Mine Workers was formed, becoming the first major United States industrialized union (Robinson, 1985). In addition, a significant defeat occurred in organized labor. The defeat is known as the strike at Homestead, Pennsylvania. The “Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers was eliminated from the steel industry” (Robinson, 1985, p. 58). History from 1905 to 1920. In 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) challenged the AFL, prior to the depression of the 1930’s. The IWW invited the unskilled and semiskilled workers that the AFL had denied and was a success from 1910 to 1915 (Encyclopedia, 1996). The results of this had decreased the AFL membership for a short period of time, but they fought back by bringing

A Union is a group of workers who wanted something better from their company or facility, they are called strikers. Unions benefit workers in many ways, they help get workers' rights. Unions  are formed because their working conditions are irritable. They all needed and wanted a change; Labor Unions were created to help the workers with work-related difficulties such as low pay, unsafe or unsanitary working conditions, long hours, and other situations. .

The role of unions and their importance has changed over the years. A mixture of poor wages, high unemployment, non-existent benefits and insignificant professional stability amongst the more youthful era makes a ready demographic for restoration. The younger era is the slightest unionized section of our general public today by a long shot. Unions are important in today’s society because checks and balances are necessary entities in business and government, so if CEOs are just focusing on themselves and profits, unions are a necessary check to all that corporate power. Today and in the future, labor unions will continue to play an important role in our country 's work force and the quality of life for working families.

One of the main reasons why teacher unions were created was to provide the teachers with rights, give the teachers better working conditions, and for the students so they could have a better learning environment. “The Federation fought for teachers' rights and improved working conditions, but it also played a prominent role in Chicago progressive reform (Rousmaniere, 2005).” The CTU’s and the Federation’s main purpose when they were created was to reform the rights of teachers and the school quality for the students that attend them. Teachers realized that they needed better conditions for the students when they saw, heard, or had been to private schools. Working together, the teachers set up organized strikes that were not violent and made the Board of Education meet the demands of the teachers. The outcome of the strike was the increase in the pay the teachers received, better environments for the students, and the teacher

In the early chapters of Special Interest Terry Moe spends much of his energy in attacking the power of the teacher unions. He claims that teachers unions are the heart of the problem when it comes to organization and reform (Moe, 2011, p. 20). While Moe claims the NEA (National Education Association) and the AFT (American Federation of Teachers) have historically lobbied against many reform programs, including voucher programs, charter schools, and merit pay programs, there is also evidence where teachers’ unions have supported new reforms. They have introduced new charter schools and have based salaries on merit pay programs. Former NEA president Bob Chase delivered a speech in 1997 claiming that the NEA was on the forefront of education reform. He stated that the NEA invested 70 million dollars on reform initiatives and sponsored six charter schools across the country (Chase, 1997, p. 372). Educational policy makers should be in particular interest to these examples especially if they believe in the effectiveness of reform programs. If policy makers understand the thinking behind why the unions support or oppose reforms, better policies can be put in place. In addition, policy makers in partnership with the teachers unions can work hand in hand to successfully coordinate reforms in American education.

The Alabama Education Association (AEA) is located in Montgomery, Alabama and is the largest education association within the state. Currently serving over 104,000 members, this professional organization was formed to represent the teachers of public schools. The AEA is the voice of teachers and ensure fairness, proper representation, and strives for excellence within Alabama’s schools. Along with providing various professional development opportunities, the AEA serves as advocates for teachers, provides member benefits, and fights endless battles against state legislature to support teachers serving in public school systems. Throughout the years, AEA has been able to help get various laws passed in the state of Alabama. Some of these laws

The Texas State Teacher Association (TSTA) is a non-governmental association that was formed to make changes on the way public schools, their students, and employees are treated. The Texas State Teacher Association mission statement is, “The Texas State Teachers Association will unite, organize and empower public education advocates to shape public education in Texas thus providing a quality public school for every child.” (about-tsta). According to TSTA, the association was first founded in Mexia Texas in June 1980. The organization was created when the North Texas Teachers Association combined with the Austin Teachers Association (about-tsta).

American Federation of Teachers, also known as AFT was founded in 1916 and today represents 1.6 million members in more than 3,000 local affiliates nationwide, founded in Chicago by President Samuel Gompers. (“About”) The AFT also represents 80,000 early childhood educators and about 250,000 retiree members. (“About”) AFT targets to help students, families, and communities to target fairness, democracy, economic opportunity, high-quality public education, healthcare and public services. (“Mission”) The organization and members advance these principles through engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism. (“Mission”) The AFT addresses multiple issues that they believe has an importance to the union and our country,

Ever since the industrial revolution, workplaces have always been a controversial topic. The relationship between the workers and the bosses has always been discussed and even compared to tyrants like Xerxes and Cambyses. In the industrial revolution worker’s rights were the last priority of the bosses. Their only goal was to make a profit at the end of the day. Following this many unions including teachers, auto, etc. were set up to protect the worker’s rights. Anderson touched on this topic in the podcast where she mentions how unions have greatly decreased in recent years. Unions have been demonized and have a negative connotation towards them. There are many arguments about them but one thing people can agree on is that they protect the worker. In podcast it is brought up how businesses are run like governments. They are run by people at the top who decide what the business should do. Unlike the government many businesses don’t have checks on the power of the CEO or board

Lawsuits for sexual harassment, physical abuse, and racial discrimination have grown steadily in the last few decades and can threaten a teacher 's job and reputation. Another benefit is defense against harsh treatment fom board members with petty criticisms through the local collective negotiating. Unfortunately, both are necessities in the education business. These teachers also feel that the NEA is their best hope for obtaining higher salaries and a voice in the administration of their schools. The other group joins because they have to, their school district has agreed to allow a closed shop to exist, where all teachers must pay some level of union dues. Few teachers join because they wholeheartedly believe in the political and social agenda of the NEA. The union is often far left of its membership on many issues. One thing that can be agreed on by everyone is that the NEA is very large, very wealthy, and very powerful. Recently surpassing the Teamsters in size, the NEA has over 2 million members, making it the largest union in America. Past Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander once said that, "After the post office, schools are the most unionized activity in America.

AFT membership was 59,000 in 1960, 200,000 in 1970, and 550,000 in 1980. (Teachers, 2015) Today it represents 1.6 million members and 3,000 local affiliates nationwide. The AFT has its own personnel and is directed by its elected officers and by delegates to the union's biennial convention, which sets union policy. Approximately 60 percent of AFT's membership works directly in education, with the remainder of the union's membership composed of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel. (Facts, 2015) Five divisions within the AFT represent the broad spectrum of the AFT's membership: pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; and nurses and other healthcare professionals. In addition, the AFT represents approximately 80,000 early childhood educators and nearly 250,000 retiree members. (Professionals, 2015)

Ultimately, a union is protection. But more than that, a union is an ally and gives support to workers who otherwise are at liberty to the decisions of big companies who often underestimate the needs of those in the working class. Providing strength in numbers, unions are able to fight for fair wages, deserved benefits, a safe working environment, and stability in their scheduling hours and seniority. A union is a friend, a platform, a protector, a voice, and the basis of a strong foundation for everyday workers who are dedicated to providing for themselves and their families.

Labor Unions began in the United States in the mid-late 1800’s. The first founding labor union was the National Labor Union, started in 1866. This labor union was not set on a particular type of worker and even though it did not succeed in making a difference in workers’ rights, it set an important precedent in our country. Being a part of a labor union has lots of pros and cons, as well as, because of them, the right to work movement was created.

Teacher Unions have evolved over time and have been essential in education equality and reform. Some now question the motivation behind these unions and whether or not they are now a barrier to reform, rather than a assistant. This paper will explore the evolvement of not only Teacher Unions, but the purpose and motivation behind said unions. Two of the most predominately known unions are American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association, NEA.