Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/795366
UNION STRONG According to a news release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state with the largest number of union members last year (2.6 million) was California. In 2016, the union membership rate (the percentage of wage and salary workers who were members of unions) was: • 15.9 percent in California (same as 2015). • 23.6 percent in New York. • 19.9 percent in Hawaii. • 18.5 percent in Alaska. • 10.7 percent nationwide (down from 11.1 percent in 2015). Of the eight states with union membership rates above 15 percent, four border the Pacific Ocean (Hawaii, Alaska, Washington and California) and four are in the Northeast (New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island). Of the nine states with rates below 5 percent, seven are in the South (Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina) and two are in the West (Utah and Arizona). See the news release at bit.ly/2m8KpBF. Media Arts and Mars A bill to improve media arts education so students will be better pre- pared for jobs in movies, animation, video games, virtual reality and other media arts fields was introduced by Assembly Member Patrick O'Donnell (D-Long Beach) for the 2017-18 legislative ses- sion. According to O'Donnell, AB 37 would enhance the state's standards in visual and performing arts (VAPA), which currently apply to visual arts, dance, theater and music. AB 37 would establish standards for new forms of creative expression made possible by the dra- matic changes in technology since the VAPA standards were adopted in 2001. If it passes, students could be designing (for example) 3-D models of human settlements on Mars, complete with agriculture, energy production, architecture, transportation, tools and clothing. Step Up to Lead CTA's Ethnic Minority Early Identification and Development (EMEID) program identifies ethnic minority members who are interested in expanding their roles in the organization. Those accepted in the yearlong program are paired with a coach and a CTA Board member, who guide them in setting and achieving their goals. Those goals could include building skills in leadership, bar- gaining, member engagement, and more. EMEID builds on existing CTA/NEA programs, trainings, conferences and events. Participants are required to attend the Emerging Leaders track at CTA's Summer Institute (July 30–Aug. 3). About 20 participants from all four CTA regions are selected each year for EMEID, which began in 2006. "Over the past 10 years, EMEID has helped more than 150 members learn more about and contribute to the union," says Nicole Love, CTA co-consultant to the program. EMEID graduates include two current CTA Board members and several State Council representatives. See cta.org/emeid to apply. The appli- cation deadline for the class of 2017-18 is April 28; applicants will be notified by May 19. The EMEID class of 2016-17 10 cta.org news & notes 2.6 million U N I O N M E M B E R S I N C A L I F O R N I A introduced by Assembly Member Patrick O'Donnell (D-Long Beach) for the 2017-18 legislative ses sion. According to O'Donnell, AB 37 would enhance the state's standards in visual and performing arts (VAPA), which currently apply to visual arts, dance, theater and music. AB 37 would establish standards for new forms of creative expression made possible by the dra in the know