Your Dues At Work - Where Your Dues Dollars Go

UTLA member dues fund union activities throughout the year. All UTLA members, from first-year teachers to veteran educators, pay the same amount in dues. Those dues fund all of the work of the union and contribute to the strength of our state and national affiliates.

UTLA’s dues are the lowest among teachers’ unions in California. UTLA dues are determined by a flat percentage rate of the basic starting salary. The allocation rate cannot be raised unless approved by the membership. UTLA has never changed our dues allocation rate, which has been in place since UTLA was formed in 1969.

Graphical representation of how your dues dollars are divvied up

Pie Chart of Dues Breakdown for 2010-2011

Dues Breakdown General Categories

Governance
UTLA 's democratic structure includes a Board of Directors, seven officers on leave from the classroom, a House of Representatives, and 33 Standing Committees. This portion of your dues pays for the support of these elected bodies, which set the policies of the union.

UTLA Staff
Staff salaries and benefits for four administrative departments are covered by this portion of your dues. The mission of the staff is to serve our members.

UTLA Building UTLA’s 12-story headquarters on Wilshire not only houses our staff
and officers but also provides space for professional development classes, chapter chair
training, UTLA meetings, National Board certification support classes, and the Teacher Training
Academy.

General Operations Operating costs cover items that keep UTLA running smoothly every day, from
office supplies to computers and copy machines.

Member Services and Organizing UTLA supports you by protecting your workplace rights through grievances and arbitrations, helping your chapter chair organize your site, and advancing the profession through National Board certification, free professional development classes, and more.

State and National Affiliates UTLA members belong to a national network of education
professionals through our affiliation with the NEA, the AFT, the CTA, and the CFT. Our affiliation agreement requires that a set portion of our dues go to our state and national affiliates.