Gary Teachers Union, Local #4, chartered by the American Federation of Teachers in 1916, has been the responsible but militant representative of Gary’s teachers Ninety-five percent (95%) of Gary’s fifteen hundred teachers are united in the Gary Teachers Union for the purpose of participating in the decision-making process. Local #4 was officially recognized by the Gary Board of School Trustees as
the sole representative for all of Gary’s teachers, as the result of a collective bargaining election held in March of 1967. The Union employs a President, Grievance Chairperson, Staff Assistant and Secretary (part time) to handle the affairs of the Union and to enforce the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Contracts. Through the unified action of teachers in the Union, we have been able to exercise our responsibility to the system and to our profession as we help shape educational decisions. The American Federation of Teacher’s belief that all educational workers need to be allied with teachers to shape common strategies and solve common problems was the basis of the Gary Teachers Union’s request for Collective Bargaining recognition for Paraprofessionals. This marriage of teachers and paraprofessionals in the Union has made our organization even stronger in obtaining common educational goals and benefits.
