Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1541528
California — and Education — Unionization Rates Are Strong A N E W R E P O R T , "State of the Unions: California Labor in 2024," reveals a strong and active labor movement in the Golden State. The report, from the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment and the UC Berkeley Labor Center, notes that workers in education and the public sector tend to have stronger collective bargaining rights and higher union density. For example, while around nine out of 100 (9.3%) California workers are employed in education, around one out of every four (25.9%) union-represented workers is employed in education. This shows that educators know that building power and winning campaigns and strong contracts in our union is the key to improving teacher pay, benefits and working conditions. Among the report's key findings: • Union density in California has held steady for over two decades in defiance of national trends. In 2024, one in six California workers was represented by a labor union. • Given the opportunity to vote in a union election, a large majority of California workers choose union representation. In 2024, unions filed petitions for over 300 elections. Workers voted for union representation in over 83% of those elections. "Unions are proving resilient and determined, organizing workers across California despite steep challenges like housing costs, health care and new technologies," said Enrique Lopezlira, co-author of the report. "We're also seeing real momentum and new opportunities to grow union power." For the full report, visit bit.ly/CAUnions2024. "Inside California Education" T H E A W A R D - W I N N I N G public television series is airing a new season. The latest episode looks at a program that gives students with disabilities a chance to play sports at schools in Downey Unified and introduces student DJs at student-run KYDS radio station in Sacramento. Another segment shows a hands-on approach to high school civics in San Joaquin County (at right). The series covers the state, focusing on both K–12 and community colleges. Episodes can be streamed at insidecaled.org or on the PBS app. 12 cta.org In the Know N E W S & N O T E S Employment and Unionization by Industry, California, 2023–2024 Share of the workforce employed in each industry and share of union-represented workers (coverage) employed in each industry. For example, 9.3% of all California workers are employed in education and around 26.9% of union-represented workers are employed in education. Credit: UC Berkeley Labor Center