Contrary to conventional wisdom, unions and charter schools are not mutually exclusive. In fact, unions are increasingly cropping up — and thriving — in charter schools around the nation.

The positive connection was brought to life by a delegation of about 30 union-represented charter school teachers who attended the National Charter Schools Conference in New Orleans during summer break.

"I've got the best of both worlds," said Tara Shaleesh of the United Federation of Teachers' Secondary Charter School in New York City. "I've got the professionalism that comes with a union and the flexibility of a charter."

Shaleesh was joined at the conference by colleagues from unionized charter schools in California, Florida, Louisiana and Missouri. All belong to the American Federation of Teachers' Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff.

The AFT, one of NYSUT's national affiliates, represents charter school staff in more than 70 schools across 10 states. Here in New York, more than a dozen charter schools are unionized in western New York, Albany, New York City and Long Island.

In New York City, the United Federation of Teachers, led by Randi Weingarten, has pioneered union-run charter schools, with two successful schools in Brooklyn. This fall, the union became the first in the nation to partner with a charter school management company, Green Dot Public Schools, to open a new high school in the South Bronx.

"We embraced the idea of a partnership with Green Dot because of its work with students and its respect for teachers and their unions," Weingarten said. In addition, UFT represents educators in seven other successful charters in New York City.

Giving teachers a voice

Teacher unionists said the conference poignantly illustrated why charter school teachers need union representation. With more that 3,000 participants — mostly school administrators and operators — at the conference, the teachers' voice was virtually non-existent except for the few teachers AFT/NYSUT sent. In fact, one workshop —"Teacher Unions and Charter Autonomy: Are they compatible?" — did not include a single teacher or union representative on the panel.

Liz Fisher, a first-grade teacher at Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary in Florida, didn't let that stop her.

"There are so many misconceptions about the union," Fisher told the panelists and audience. "I'm here to tell you joining the Broward Teachers Union has made our great school an even better place to work. The teachers just wanted a voice: Nothing more, nothing less. We wanted a say in professional development, hiring, evaluations, helping struggling colleagues. It's been a success story for us. We now have very little turnover and one common interest: the kids."

A highlight of the conference was a special reception hosted by ACTS, local unions and the Coalition of Essential Schools. Keynote speaker was Michelle Bodden, who is leading the UFT Elementary Charter School after a long history of leadership with the UFT and as a NYSUT Board member. She encouraged the charter school unionists to spread the word about how unions can work in charter schools.

The 'big lie'

"We know some people in the charter movement are out to prove that competition makes schools better. And they're out to prove that non-union schools are more successful," Bodden said. "Well, we know better. In New York and elsewhere, unionized charter schools consistently rank among the state's best and that's not by accident."

Bodden said student achievement is high when educators are treated fairly, with respect and have a voice in their practice.

"So let's put to rest the big lie about charter schools and teacher unions," Bodden said. "You are living proof that unionized charter schools work. And you're living proof that you can have the best of both worlds: the innovation that comes with working at a charter and the professional workplace that comes along with being in a union."

This, Bodden noted, was the vision legendary union leader Al Shanker popularized when he launched the charter school idea 20 years ago. "Al knew, as do you, that real and substantive innovation comes from the bottom up," Bodden said. "It's high time for charter school teachers to reclaim the promise and vision of charter schools as laboratories for teacher-led innovation."

Teachers left the conference with ideas they were eager to try in the classroom and a new appreciation for their union membership.

"It was a scary step to bring in the union," said Julie Mullen of Community Charter School in Buffalo. "But it's nice to know we're not alone and that unions really can work in charter schools."

For more information about the American Federation of Teachers' Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff, see www.aftacts.org

— Sylvia Saunders