TEACHERS' UNION

The Effects of Teachers' unions on American Labor Market

Abstract

In the United States, teachers' unions have grown into one of the most powerful unions in the United States. Their role is to improve the working conditions of teachers. Teachers' unions carry out diverse activities to maintain their monopoly. They lobby legislators, target the media, and provide endorsements. The last ten years have proved fruitful for teachers' unions in the United States. During this time period, teachers' unions have significantly increased the share of the public school labor force. Teachers' unions have undeniable bargaining and political power. Teachers' unions have the power to select the board of public schools. They can also influence educational reforms of the country.

Table of Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Discussion1

History of Teachers' Unions in the United States2

Laws Regulating Teachers' Unions in the United States3

Union Representation3

Good Faith3

Impasses and Strikes3

Scope of Bargaining3

How Teachers' Unions May Positively Impact Schools and Teachers Well-Being4

Outcomes of Teachers' Unions4

Student Achievements4

Professional Development5

Teachers Union and the Education Labor Market5

Changes in the Conditions of Labor Market5

Collective Bargaining and Teachers' Labor Market6

The Effectiveness of Teachers Union7

Raising Salaries7

Minimizing Competition9

Political Influence of Teachers' Unions in the United States10

Teachers' Unions and the Education System10

How Teachers' Unions Have Grown Into One of the Most Powerful Unions11

Conclusion11

References13

The Effects of Teachers 'Unions on American Labor Market

Introduction

The role of teachers' unions is to improve working conditions for teachers. In the United States, teachers' unions have a strong influence on public schools. These unions influence American public schools through two ways. They shape public schools from the bottom up and from the top down. From the bottom up, teachers' unions shape public schools through collective bargaining. From the top down, they can also influence laws and regulations imposed on public education by the government.

The formation of teachers' union is considered a recent development in the United States. Before the 1960s, administrative professionals were the power holders in American public schools. They were responsible for running public schools by organizing various activities. Historically, teachers had less power in American public schools. Teachers were the member of the National Education Association (NEA). At that time, the National Educational Association was a professional organization in the United States which was controlled by administrators. For the first time in the 1960s, various laws were adopted which encouraged the formation of teachers union in the United States. It was the time when the American Federation of Teachers suggested organizing teachers in to teachers union. In the 1980s, teachers union became the most powerful force in the United States (Moe, 2011).

Discussion

Teachers' unions play an important role in the United States. Their contributions in the education policy of the country cannot be ignored. The organizational structure of teachers' unions varies in different countries. However, in every country, there is at least one organization which works for the betterment and development of public school teachers. The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association are two important forces which are responsible to work for the rights of teachers in the United ...