California Teachers Association
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| Full name | California Teachers Association |
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| Founded | May, 1863 |
| Members | 340,000 |
| Country | United States |
| Affiliation | NEA |
| Key people | Dean Vogel, President |
| Office location | 1705 Murchison Drive, Burlingame, California |
| Website | www.cta.org |
The California Teachers Association (CTA), initially established in 1863 as the California Educational Society, is by far the largest teachers' union in the state of California. It is considered by many[who?] to be the most powerful union in California. The CTA is based in Burlingame, and its current president is Dean Vogel, replacing David Sanchez, who retired in 2011.
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[edit] History
In response to a call in 1863 from the California Superintendent of Public Instruction, John Swett, for a "teachers' institute", about one hundred teachers gathered in San Francisco, resulting in the formation of the California Educational Society. In 1875, the organization changed its name to the California Teachers Association.
In 1912, several regional teachers organizations, including the Southern California Teachers Association, were consolidated into the CTA, enabling creation of a statewide governance structure. The consolidation retained six distinct regional entities, or 'sections', however, which continued to elect their own executive secretaries and staffs. In 1971, the sections were phased out, with a unified governance structure and staff.
[edit] Role in 2005 Special Election
The CTA was known for running numerous ads criticizing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for refusing to pay back $2 billion that, according to the CTA and reflected by sharply curtailed education programs, the Governor had borrowed from the education budget. The CTA strongly opposed propositions 74, 75, 76, which were advanced by Schwarzenegger. None of the initiatives were approved by voters. The CTA also criticized Governor Schwarzenegger for spending nearly $80 million on the special election.
[edit] Role in 2008 Primary Election
The CTA strongly opposed Proposition 8 and donated a total of $1.25 million to help fight the measure that would ban gay marriage, stating their President felt the proposition would violate civil rights and that proponents' advertising made false claims about the effect the proposition would have on public school curricula; some CTA members do not support the donation.[1] The association's donations more than doubled the previous highest donation by a labor union against the proposition, given by the Service Employees International Union.[2]
[edit] Role in 2009 Special Election
In putting California Proposition 1B (2009) on the ballot, which the Teachers Association supported, the legislature gained the support of the Teacher's Association on all ballot proposals.[3]
[edit] Spending in California Politics
The CTA is the most influential spender in California politics, spending more money on politicians and to influence California voters than Chevron, AT&T, Philip Morris and Western States Petroleum Association combined.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ "$1 million donation by California Teachers Association to oppose Prop 8". http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27245431/.
- ^ "Teachers Union Donates $1 Million to Oppose Proposition 8". LA Times. 2008-10-17. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-teachers17-2008oct17,0,6308701.story. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ "California Special Election: Prop. 1B explained". Los Angeles Times. 2009-05-09. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/california-special-election-prop-1b.html. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ^ http://www.fppc.ca.gov/reports/Report31110.pdf
Where does the Dues money Go? 2010 Financial Disclosure from CA Secretary of State. Campaign finance Division. http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1018473&session=2009&type=monetary&view=contributions
