Above, UTLA-R Secretary and retired LAUSD teacher, Susie Chow, walks the line during the teachers' strike in January 2019 at Robert Hill Lane EL. Chow (in blue) also walked the line in '89.
Above, retired UTLA Elementary Vice President Mike Dreebin, his wife Monin, also a retired teacher, and their union dog Auchie at Mar Vista Elementary school during the strike in January 2019.
Stories from the line
LISA EDMONDSON
Walked at Palms ES
Retired teacher Lisa Edmondson
Comparing 1989 to present I could not believe the momentous changes in how a strike is organized! The air literally shimmered with energy, rain and all! Congeniality all around. Fighting for justice and for education is exhilarating!
CARRIE MORITA
Walked at Eagle Rock EL & Rallies
On right, retired teacher Carrie Morita holds yellow sign.
I have been retired from Eagle Rock Elementary School for 8 years. I taught there for 34 years while my first two years were at Micheltorena Elementary. I walked the line in '89 and know that if we stand up and speak out "together" by walking out together then we will be heard.
Q: What were your experiences like?
A: Invigorating! Exciting! Carried my teacher strike poster in the Women's Day March.
A retired member supporting the UTLA teachers' strike in January 2019.
During the strike, hundreds of retired L.A. teachers returned to their former schools to continue the fight for public education. One veteran of the two previous strikes said back then UTLA was up against an intransigent district, but didn’t have to face billionaires and unrestrained charter school growth.
John Perez cut his union teeth when he was 23 years old. It was 1970 and Perez was a probationary teacher at Roosevelt High when a fledgling United Teachers Los Angeles shut down L.A. Unified schools for 23 days.
Representation in the UTLA Board of Directors and the UTLA House of Representatives, and
Participation in UTLA-R elections and activities, political representation in Sacramento, and additional benefits.
There are also four UTLA-R General Assembly meetings each year for members to get updates and information on Health Benefits, STRS, and other important issues.
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UTLA-R Membership
UTLA membership does not automatically continue into retirement. If you have not already done so, you should join UTLA-Retired at the very nominal investment of $2.38 per month deducted from your STRS pension.
Mailing Address
UTLA
Attn: Membership Department
3303 Wilshire Blvd., 12th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Our officers and other Steering Committee members are unpaid and elected by the membership to represent you. Their job is to act on your concerns on the will of the membership. They are dedicated to improving retiree health benefits, protecting and improving state benefits and promoting the welfare of UTLA retirees.
