Members of the Los Angeles teachers union voted on Feb. 10 to raise their annual dues, the better to fight the well-funded opponents of public schools and unions. With the support of 82 percent of the members who cast ballots, the United Teachers Los Angeles will increase dues by about a third, to $1,000 a year. 

“As billionaires are trying to cripple unions, our vote sends a national signal that educators are willing to invest more in our unions and in the fight for educational justice, said UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl. 

Most of the union’s 32,000 members are teachers, but UTLA also represents school nurses, counselors and psychologists. Just over 50 percent of the membership voted. 

Prior to the vote, Caputo-Pearl reminded members about a Broad Foundation proposal to move half of Los Angeles’ students into charter schools over the next eight years. 

Although the fate of the Broad plan is uncertain, the number of charter schools has increased; Los Angeles has the most charters of any district in the nation. 

UTLA is about to enter negotiations with the district over class sizes and school staffing levels for nurses and counselors. Also on the table: how teachers will be evaluated.

The Los Angeles Times, Feb. 10