Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/740763
Wide Awake, Fighting Mad How UTLA got its groove back By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin W hen billionaire Eli Broad revealed his plan to put half of Los Angeles' students in unregulated, privatized charter schools last year, he never expected that 1,000 United Teachers Los Angeles (UTL A) members and school supporters would show up at the grand opening of his new art museum on a Sunday morning, holding a press conference that featured residents from New Orleans describing how their school system was destroyed by a similar Broad plan. Or that UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl would challenge Broad to a public debate on education. ese days, UTLA has a message for billionaires like Broad and the Walmart heirs who are seeking to privatize public education: Bring. It. On. In February, an unprecedented 82 percent of UTLA members voted to reinvest in their union and agreed to a dues increase. UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl, right, and UTLA organized a protest of billionaire Eli Broad's support of charter schools outside The Broad museum on its opening day in September 2015. Photo by Kim Turner. Well-Organized, 22 cta.org FEATURE