Why Join ITA?
The Power of Membership
Since 1863, CTA has been fighting for educators and the students they serve. At the local level, members bargain for fair working and learning conditions, so they can ensure that school districts provide the schools all students deserve. CTA members join a long and vibrant legacy of fighting for equity by lifting up the voices of the unheard and winning resources for schools and students. CTA members individually and collectively are the best and most important advocates for public education and the professionals that make it possible.
The combined strength of CTA’s 310,000 members and NEA’s 3.2 million members makes us powerful and passionate advocates for you at the state and national levels. That means that just by joining CTA, you’re helping an education support professional in another district bargain a living wage right now.
Advocacy
Through collective action, we lead our profession. Monitoring the legislative process and advocating for laws that achieve gains for students, teachers and public education are cornerstones of our mission. We also advocate for you at the bargaining table, in the community, and in your schools. We advocate so all students — regardless of family circumstances, where they live, where they were born, how they look, who they love, or the language they speak — have the right to a public education that helps them reach their full potential. Members are the best advocates, and to that end we enable members like you to speak with unity and authority on the issues that matter.
BENEFITS OF UNION MEMBERSHIP
- Join CTA and our movement to strengthen public education for educators, our students and our communities.
- Organizing and bargaining for a strong union contract, including your salary, benefits and working conditions. Our unity is critical to retaining and recruiting educators for years to come.
- A voice in pushing legislation to improve working and learning conditions across public education.
- Every member can vote on our union leadership within our chapter, and at our state and national unions, the California Teachers Association (CTA) and the National Education Association (NEA).
- Representation on matters pertaining to your collectively-bargained agreement.
- $1 million Educators Employment Liability insurance coverage plus legal defense costs should you get sued.
- Legal assistance for employment matters including:
- Due process, leave rights, and layoffs;
- Credential defense before the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing;
- Classification disputes and other disputes arising under the California Education Code;
- Discrimination under federal or state laws based on race, gender, age, or other protected characteristics;
- Discrimination based on union activity;
- Retirement issues.
- Access to professional and leadership development trainings and conferences to support student learning, classroom management, social and emotional skills, special education, social justice and more.
- Scholarships of up to $5,000 to continue your education or to support your children going to college.
- Exclusive CTA and NEA Member Benefits programs:
- CTA Death & Dismemberment Plan (automatic benefit)
- NEA Complimentary Life Insurance (automatic benefit)
- CTA Auto and Home Insurance
- CTA Disaster Relief Fund
- CTA Voluntary Group Life/Disability Insurance
- CTA Classroom Setup Grant for Brand New Educators
- CTA Access to Savings: Travel, Entertainment and Purchasing Discounts
- CTA 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan and financial tools and resources
- Free Calm subscription for CTA Members
- Financial services such as credit cards, credit union services, special mortgage and auto loan programs
- Resources to Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Programs
- Many more products, services and discounts negotiated on behalf of, and provided to, members only
