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Tensions rise as UTLA candidate take on issues, each other
Tensions deepened last night among the candidates running for the top job at United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) as one of them came close to a physical confrontation with another after the event ended. Hosted by the teacher advocacy group, Educators4Excellence, at City Hall in Boyle Heights, the event played before a crowd of about...
By Brianna Sacks | March 5, 2014
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Teachers union plans leaflet push for raises, smaller classes
The Los Angeles teachers union, UTLA, is planning to blanket the district with leaflets tomorrow to build support among parents for smaller class sizes, fully staffed schools and raises. With help from health and human services workers, teachers intend to pass out informational leaflets before and, in some cases, after school. The leaflets ask parents...
By LA School Report | March 3, 2014
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Misunderstood election rules upsetting UTLA candidates
Recent campaign appearances by Alex Caputo-Pearl at schools around LA Unified have ignited a dispute among candidates for UTLA offices who say election rules — such as they are — are being applied unfairly. The conflict has also brought into focus how misunderstood the rules seem to be. The source of the infighting is what...
By Vanessa Romo | February 27, 2014
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UTLA candidates hit YouTube with stump speeches
With ballots going in the mail next week, Los Angeles area teachers will start a long, internal election process that could have a big impact on the future of the teachers union (UTLA), one of the most powerful in the country. The competition for the top job of UTLA president, which pays north of $100,000...
By Chase Niesner | February 21, 2014
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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 schedules two forums for president candidates
The United Teachers Los Angeles has announced two additional forums with candidates for president, one at Monroe High School on February 18 and the other two days later at UTLA headquarters. Eight of the 10 candidates faced off in a debate that resulted in at least one consensus: the current state of the union is fractured and plagued with in-fighting. Though fewer...
By Chase Niesner | February 10, 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