A Look Into Teacher Unions Across the United States

Organized labor has long been a practice in the United States, with some of the largest unions belonging to the educational sector. Teacher unions serve as a bargaining platform to elevate teachers’ voices and protect their rights as educators. As a team of educators, we know that teaching is no easy feat. There is only so much we can accomplish as individuals without the right assistance.

At Proximity Learning, we’re devoted to supporting schools when local staff may not be available to fill positions. With the teacher shortage still looming large over the country, schools and teachers face rising pressures as classes grow bigger and staff becomes smaller. The search for teacher vacancy solutions may seem futile, but Proximity Learning’s certified virtual teachers are here to ease the stress with quality instruction. As players in the educational environment, it is significant that we all take the time to understand the role teacher unions play in the country.

What are teacher unions?

Teacher unions are collective organizations of educators that negotiate with school districts to secure adequate salaries, benefits, and working conditions for teachers. Teacher unions often exist at the local or regional levels, but the most well-known unions stand at the national level. The two largest teacher unions in the United States are the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. They share the common purpose of representing educators through political activism, providing members with professional development, and offering benefits such as insurance.

Across the country, regional teacher unions are facing their own challenges as many unions struggle to reach agreements with school district officials or approach the time to recertify. 

The current state of teacher unions

Today, teacher unions remain focused on upholding their policies with school districts and ensuring that their members receive fair and equal treatment. Some of the larger teacher unions in the United States have recently been making headlines through public demonstrations and the effects of new changes. The following provides a snapshot of teacher unions nationwide.

California Teacher Unions

Tensions in California have been rising as multiple teachers, a part of the California Teachers Association, threaten to go on strike if an agreement is not reached soon. Last month, San Francisco teachers ended their first strike in 50 years after four days of union members rallying around the city. The school district agreed to use rainy-day funds to cover increases in pay, health benefits, special education staff, and more. 

Now, 3 Sacramento-area school districts, Twin Rivers Unified in North Sacramento, Natomas Unified, and Washington Unified in West Sacramento, are on the brink of teacher strikes. Similarly, they are demanding:

• Salary increases to keep up with the rising costs of living
• Fully covered health care benefits
• Improved working conditions, such as smaller class sizes and additional campus safety measures

As of the latest report, Natomas Unified announced they will begin striking on March 10 if no agreement is reached this first week of March. 

Florida Teacher Unions

In Florida, the state government has introduced new legislation that rewrites the rules for labor union recertification. Under Senate Bill 1296, a union doesn’t just have to win the majority of people who vote; “They would now be required to have a majority of every employee in the collective bargaining unit.” Earlier in the year, the Florida Education Association outlined the K-12 education bills they support, some of which include:

• SB 320: Brings back multi-year teacher contracts and gives school districts more flexibility on how to use money
• HB 345: Requires Florida’s voluntary pre-K funding to rise each year with inflation, with increases capped at 5%
• HB 471: Requires Florida to create a plan to recruit and retain speech-language pathologists

Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York Teacher Unions

Throughout the rest of the country, teacher unions have been making decisions to keep their teachers, students, and families' best interests at heart. Before the start of the school year, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) was negotiating a new contract with the School District of Philadelphia, where they discussed salary raises, expanding the paraprofessional pathway program, and ending a policy that penalizes employees for using sick leave days. A day before students returned to school, they reached a tentative contract agreement.

In Illinois, the Chicago Teachers Union has been pushing for an increase in money for schools during this spring’s legislative session. Sen. Graciela Guzmán and Rep. Will Davis have introduced legislation that would require the state to provide more funding for schools and school district services, such as transportation for students with disabilities.

January’s winter storms in New York brought large amounts of snow to the state and hopes of snow days for New York City students. Before the storm, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that classes would resume online or in-person depending on weather conditions. NYC’s contract with the United Federation of Teachers had already locked in the current 2025-2026 school calendar, restricting the possibility of snow days.

What challenges do teacher unions face?

While teacher unions in each state face unique circumstances, they all share common challenges. Teacher unions have frequently reported issues with teacher recruitment and retention, compensation to keep up with the cost of living, and maintaining manageable class sizes. Teachers have also consistently emphasized the importance of having adequate support staff and resources at their schools.

These conversations often lead back to the ongoing teacher shortage that can make the educational environment feel stressful. The nationwide teacher shortage has made it increasingly difficult for schools to hire certified teachers, specifically in rural districts or areas that tend to experience higher vacancy rates. These challenges have encouraged various administrators to seek help through alternative solutions like live virtual teaching. 

Proximity Learning helps when no one else can

When local staffing isn’t enough, Proximity Learning’s virtual services can help ease temporary gaps. We’re experienced in working alongside school districts to deliver them the customized support they need, whether that be direct virtual instruction, tutoring, or special education case management. Our goal is not to replace local teachers, but to help schools when vacancies are unfilled and ensure students can continue learning with a qualified instructor. 

Like teacher unions and school districts, we want what’s best for students and teachers everywhere. Conversations surrounding educational policies and staffing will continue to change, but the importance of supporting educators remains constant. When we understand the role teacher unions play and recognize the challenges schools face nationwide, we can work better together to strengthen the educational environment for teachers and students. Contact Proximity Learning today to join the movement against asynchronous learning and ineffective curriculum.