LOS ANGELES – United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), a LA-based teachers union, has long been known for its status quo policies and practices.

That means, for the union, the financial interests of teachers have taken priority over the academic interests of students.

But cracks in the radical armor are becoming apparent, and some hope that after the most recent, highly contested elections for delegate positions in the union’s House of Representatives, the tide may begin flowing in a more moderate direction that will benefit students and teachers alike.

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More teachers getting involved

The House of Representatives is the official decision-making arm of the union, trumping even the clout of the union’s president and board of directors.

Per UTLA’s official website, “The 350 member House of Representatives meets eight times a year to debate policy and vote on motions that determine UTLA’s direction.”

Beyond setting policy, the House also determines which political candidates to endorse in elections – a decision that can make or break a candidate’s chances of victory in certain urban areas.

Far more teachers than usual ran for the self-nominated House delegate positions in the 2013-2014 elections. Twenty-two of the 32 election districts featured contested races, and in total, 396 candidates fought for 209 seats.

The turnout was a surprise to both local teachers and union leaders. Some of the more radical union loyalists, who have controlled the organization for years, are fearful that more moderate newcomers will upset the dynamics of the union.

We were unable to determine how many young, reformist candidates won seats in the House of Representatives in December. That will become more obvious in coming months when the body makes important policy decisions.

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But the reformers have clearly gained the attention of the union traditionalists.

In an email posted on a public online forum for educators (and published by the Los Angeles Times), teacher Anne Zerrien-Lee says, “Taking over our House of Reps is clearly their strategy to destroy us.”

The disgruntled radicals say that three outside, non-profit groups – Educators 4 Excellence, Teach Plus, and Teachers for a New Unionism – encouraged teachers to run for delegate seats and will exercise their influence with new delegates to promote their policies.

That would be a very good thing.

The mission of each of these groups is to promote increased student achievement by supporting and rewarding skilled educators and beneficial teaching practices.

And the groups are finding many teachers who share the belief that student instruction is more important than collective bargaining or union political efforts.

Many teachers believe unions must change

Michael Stryker is a member of UTLA and the executive director of Teachers for a New Unionism, which reached out to Los Angeles teachers via mailings, encouraging them to run for seats in the House of Reps.

In early December, shortly before the votes were counted, Stryer penned a column for the Washington Post criticizing large, urban unions.

“The leaders of the biggest teachers unions, including in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, largely focus on narrow contractual protections to the detriment of teacher quality and student achievement, issues that are of critical concern to the new majority of teachers.”

UTLA, like many other teachers unions, has resisted linking teachers’ evaluations and salaries to student performance.

Stryker says things are changing as a new majority of teachers – those who have taught for 10 years or less – want to hold educators accountable.

“These newer teachers, along with many longtime teachers, are looking for their unions to elevate the profession – not to sacrifice teaching quality for job security,” Stryker wrote.

Stryer says that urban unions need to emulate smaller ones in their approach.

“Eschewing top-down leadership, these [unions in small and medium-size districts] are highly collaborative,” writes Stryer. “As a result, their actions reflect their members’ priorities: improved student achievement and upgraded teacher quality.”

One can’t help but wonder why any UTLA members would oppose this group’s efforts to encourage teachers to run for a delegate position in the House of Reps.

The only plausible answer seems to be that some in UTLA are still determined to protect bad teachers at the expense of students.