Los Angeles teachers: you now have the right to leave your union.
If you’re tired of politics or feel like your union is not representing your views, you have options. Thanks to Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME, teachers nationwide are no longer required to be part of a teachers union in order to keep their jobs. You can stay a member if you’d like, but you are also now free to resign from United Teachers Los Angeles membership, or any other teacher union membership and stop paying dues.
Ready to opt out? Get started.
What you Need to Know About Teachers’ Rights & Options
Deciding to leave your teachers union isn’t always an easy decision.
Even if you disagree with their political involvement or feel like you’re not being supported, you may feel like leaving the union would betray or offend your colleagues. You are not alone.
Many teachers have been guilted, coerced, even bullied into staying with their union, even when it is not in the best interest of their students, or even their school. Sharon, an educator and former union representative, shares her story.
Just remember – the Supreme Court gave you the freedom to decide what is in your best interest, and in the best interest of your students and colleagues. Whatever you decide is the right decision!
If you opt out of the teachers union, you will not lose your teaching contract, seniority, or other benefits.
You may be concerned that leaving the teachers union means you will lose your teaching contract, seniority, tenure, or job protection. That is not the case.
- Any current teaching contract you have still stands, whether you’re a member of the teacher’s union or not.
- Your job, seniority, and tenure are protected by your contract and state and federal law. Additional job protection is also available through non-union education associations.
There are affordable alternatives for liability insurance, job protection, and other resources.
The union is not your only source for teacher liability insurance. There are many national and local teacher associations that provide liability insurance, employment rights coverage, and the other forms of support you need to do your job!
How to Opt Out of the UTLA
If you decide to opt out of the UTLA, the process should be straightforward.
- Go to the California resources page and download or email yourself a copy of the standard opt out letter.
- Fill in the letter with your information and mail copies to your union and employer.
If you get stuck in the process, are unsure where to send your letter, or need other help, feel free to contact us at info@teacherfreedom.org. If you have already sent your letter and encountered problems or pushback, or still have questions, let us know. We’re here to help!
Local Resources for California Educators
California Policy Center (CPC)
The California Policy Center (CPC) is an educational non-profit focused on public policies that aim to improve California’s democracy and economy. CPC is committed to protecting the rights of California educators to make decisions for themselves.
California Teacher Empowerment Network (CTEN)
The California Teacher Empowerment Network (CTEN) is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization providing objective information to teachers on education policy.