The Hechinger Report published an excellent in-depth article on chapter leaders in the United Federation of Teachers. The piece is part of an ongoing series in conjunction with Gotham Schools. In this installment, Emma Sokoloff-Rubin writes:
The UFT is a politically powerful organization with millions of dollars at its disposal and sweeping campaigns that aim to make change at the highest levels of education policy. But at the heart of all of the spending and lobbying is the union’s contract with the city....For all of the conflict the contract elicits, it has meaning on the ground only if someone enforces its terms. That job falls to the small army of “chapter leaders.” who represent the union at each school, and who are many teachers’ only contact with their union.
Sokoloff-Rubin explores the role of chapter leaders, their responsibilities and challenges. In a nutshell:
- "The first task of any chapter leader is to help his or her colleagues understand their rights and responsibilities."
- "They must also ensure that the contract’s terms are respected," by navigating relationships with school administrators, which are especially sensitive in the face of limited resources as they confront issues surrounding class size and teacher evaluations. When a compromise cannot be reached, chapter leaders may file grievances on behalf of their teachers and must offer their unconditional support for individual grievances.
- "Chapter leaders are also expected to support broader efforts to safeguard the profession," including the union's substantial political work. Chapter leaders participate and engage their members in activities such as rallies, lobbying and election efforts as well as mediate tensions within the chapter.
- "All of the educating, enforcing, and engaging is supposed to get done in just a few hours each week," and though chapter leaders are excused from some of the responsibilities required of their colleagues, the "time to field questions, juggle grievances, and get political," is frequently a substantial commitment.
Read the full article here.
Reprinted with permission from The Hechinger Report.
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