Organize Your Own Bargaining Unit

Educators change lives. Every day, you show up for your students, guiding them toward success with dedication, passion, and expertise. But who is advocating for you? Your voice matters—not just in the classroom, but in shaping the decisions that impact your profession, your students, and your future.

When educators come together, we create real, lasting change. Forming a union isn’t just about securing fair working conditions—it’s about ensuring that every educator has the resources, respect, and support needed to provide the best possible education for students. A strong, united voice means stronger schools, better outcomes, and a more empowered future for everyone.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward building a workplace where educators and students thrive, we’re here to support you. Let’s build something powerful—together.

Union 101

Steps to Building Your Union

Why ACE?

Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

What is a CBA?

• A Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) — sometimes just called a “contract” — is, for starters, a written document that we can all read and access. We won’t have mystery policies or practices that we can’t find in writing.
• A CBA is a legally binding agreement between the employer (CUSD) and the employees (ACE). It provides collective and individual rights that can be legally enforced through the grievance process and other actions. It can only be changed through re-negotiation, which requires a majority approval vote of the membership. There will be no more policy changes without our involvement.
• All of us are equal under a Collective Bargaining Agreement. It doesn’t matter who you are or who you know – the contract applies equally to everyone. Unfair treatment, such as favoritism or bullying, isn’t allowed under a CBA.

What a CBA isn’t

• A CBA isn’t perfect—there may be ways that an administrator can circumvent our agreement to do the wrong thing. This is primarily a problem with the administrator, not the agreement, but the CBA is a living document that can change every time we re-negotiate it. We will continue to work on making the CBA work better for us and for students.
• A CBA isn’t a replacement for management – local and district administrators are still responsible for running the schools under the terms of the agreement.
• A CBA doesn’t enforce itself. We have to be the ones who make sure the district follows the CBA and take the appropriate steps when it isn’t. Union membership, labor laws, our union, and our CBA give us extra protections when we stand up – but it doesn’t happen without us making it happen.

Membership and Benefits

1. Union Membership: Educators throughout all three bargaining units are signing up to be members of ACE/CTA. Why become a union member?
   • Strength in Numbers!
     The more members we have in our bargaining unit, the stronger our voice is in achieving the things that are important to all of us and our students.
   • Each voice is important!
     As union members, we come together to make decisions that impact our work. We’re stronger when every voice is part of the conversation. As a member you get to vote on the bylaws, representatives, and officers as well as the ratification of a bargaining agreement.
   • Standing together!
     It’s not just you who benefits from your union membership, it’s all other school psychologists and MHSPs who work alongside you. When their work is more reasonable, sustainable, and rewarding, so is yours.
   • Leadership and representation!
     When you’re a union member you can run for the many positions within our Association, such as Rep Council, Executive Board, Bargaining Team, and Unit and Association Officers; and regional and statewide positions such as CTA State Council Representative, Service Center Officers, NEA delegates, and many more. The more we participate, the more our perspectives are empowered.
2. Union Benefits: Union membership has other benefits – 310,000 educators around the state have created packages and products customized exclusively for educator needs and scaled up for efficiency. Learn more at ctamemberbenefits.org.
   • Legal Services
     Whether you’re facing legal issues in the workplace or in your personal life, you have access to legal support
   • Liability Insurance
     $1,000,000 of legal liability insurance
   • Free life insurance
   • Travel, vacation, and other discounts
   • Educator-specific home and auto insurance
   • Educator-specific disability insurance